A statement made by President Gustavo Petro during a public event in Medellín on June 22 sparked a wave of backlash from Colombia’s medical community.

“That’s why medicine in this country is so bad: because in Colombia, only the children of the rich study it. And when they graduate, they spend all day drinking coffee in the 93,” declared the president, referring to an exclusive area in Bogotá.

The remark, widely shared on social media and in the press, prompted immediate reactions from medical associations and healthcare professionals, who viewed it as an unfair stigmatization that ignores the difficult working conditions faced by many doctors — especially those practicing in rural or underserved areas.

The Colombian Medical Federation (FMC) issued an official statement on June 24 rejecting the president’s comment, stating that “it is not only false and derogatory, but it also erases the sacrifices made by rural doctors, many of whom work without proper guarantees, receive delayed payments, and face serious security risks.”

The Colombian Medical College and the Colombian Association of Scientific Societies (ACSC) also supported the FMC’s position. According to data shared by these organizations and cited in national media, several rural doctors have publicly reported going up to five months without pay, working without basic supplies, and facing precarious infrastructure.

A report by Colombia’s Ministry of Health, published in 2024, acknowledged that more than 38% of municipalities across the country suffer from a shortage of medical personnel, and that at least 27% of rural health centers lack ambulances or emergency transportation.

Furthermore, the “Rural Medical Alert” program, promoted by the FMC, has documented numerous cases in recent years involving threats, lack of medical supplies, and state neglect in regions such as Chocó, La Guajira, and Putumayo.

In light of the controversy, healthcare professionals are demanding labor guarantees, improved working conditions, and respect from the government. “We are not part of the problem; we are part of the solution,” the FMC concluded in its statement.

Doctors who have spoken out on social media report experiencing numerous difficulties while providing care in rural areas. Due to ongoing violence in some parts of the country, many have suffered physical and verbal assaults — and some have even lost their lives in the line of duty.