Sebastián León-Giraldo

This book chapter, «Inequidades en el acceso a salud en el departamento del Meta: de la implementación del Acuerdo de Paz en Colombia a la actualidad,» provides a thorough analysis of the enduring inequities in healthcare access in Meta, a region deeply affected by Colombia’s armed conflict. The chapter uses data from the Conflict, Peace, and Health Survey (CONPAS), which offers detailed insights into the health status and access issues faced by residents in this post-conflict area. By leveraging the CONPAS survey, the analysis sheds light on the complex interplay between socio-political dynamics and healthcare provision, highlighting how historical conflict and current peacebuilding efforts influence health service accessibility.

The chapter underscores the significant challenges in healthcare provision that have persisted even after the implementation of the Peace Accord. It discusses the structural barriers to health access, such as fragmented healthcare infrastructure and the ongoing shortage of medical professionals in the region. The findings call for urgent reforms in health policy to address these disparities effectively, emphasizing the need for targeted strategies that accommodate the specific needs of conflict-affected communities. The use of the CONPAS survey data enriches the discussion by providing empirical evidence of the gaps in health equity, making a compelling case for continued efforts to integrate health services into Colombia’s broader peacebuilding and development agenda.