Medellín‘s CIGA System Significantly Reduces Emergency Room Overcrowding
Medellín, Colombia – A new health management system in Medellín is delivering significant results, reducing emergency room saturation by 32%, according to the city’s Ministry of Health. The Integrated Access Management Center – CIGA – is a technological tool designed to streamline healthcare access by prioritizing patient needs and connecting individuals with appropriate care through their EPS (health insurance) and IPS (healthcare provider) networks.
Launched with the goal of improving care quality and reducing strain on emergency services,CIGA operates by conducting initial triage at healthcare access points. For non-life-threatening cases, the system quickly schedules appointments within the patient’s EPS network or at a convenient location, diverting them from overcrowded emergency rooms.
Since it’s implementation in 2025, CIGA has facilitated more agile and accessible care for approximately 200,000 peopel. The system isn’t limited to general medicine; it has also successfully directed 688 patients to mental health services, scheduled 39,438 appointments for maternal care, and 32,445 appointments for pediatric care.
“In Medellín we are transforming the way in which the health system works,” stated Natalia López Delgado, Secretary of Health. “With the CIGA we have managed to reduce the emergency saturation by 32%. This is an innovative bet that connects EPS and IPS in real time, improves the quality of care and demonstrates that when we work as a team, citizens are the real beneficiaries.”
City officials emphasize that CIGA ensures patients receive “adequate attention according to [their] clinical condition,” freeing up emergency resources for critical cases. The initiative represents a significant step towards a more efficient and patient-centered healthcare system in Medellín.
