Official launch of the Anti-Corruption Collective Action in the Health Sector in Colombia-29 May 2025.
Colombia
Colombia is not a target country of the Siemens Integrity Initiative. However, as a winner of the 2024 internal ACCA contest, it is receiving support through the Golden Stretch Round by the Siemens Integrity Initiative.
The Global Compact Network Colombia, in collaboration with UNODC and the UN Global Compact’s Governance and Anti-Corruption team, officially launched the Anti-Corruption Collective Action in the health sector on 29 May 2025. This initiative emerged from a winning proposal submitted to the “United for Business Integrity: The Global Collective Action Competition!” and is framed within the activities of the Compliance Officers Network.
Mission
The mission of Network Colombia is to strengthen corporate integrity in the health sector by promoting Principle Ten of the UN Global Compact: Businesses should work against corruption in all its forms, including extortion and bribery.
This Collective Action aims to bring together diverse actors in the health value chain to collectively commit to anti-corruption, foster transparent business practices, and build long-term trust across the sector.
Collaborative efforts
Initiated and championed by Fundación Cardio Infantil and Fundación Santa Fe de Bogotá, this Collective Action was shaped through a participatory process involving workshops, knowledge exchange, and stakeholder engagement. Key partners include the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the Alliance for Integrity, and major players in the Colombian health sector.
Despite challenges such as varying levels of stakeholder readiness and a fragmented sector, the initiative succeeded in bringing together a wide range of actors — including hospitals, pharmaceutical firms, and industry associations — to work toward a common integrity agenda. The anti-corruption Collective Action workshops provided a platform for capacity-building and consensus-building, inspired by international experiences such as the Collective Action in Mexico’s health sector.
Looking ahead
The Collective Action in the health sector aims to become a global benchmark by showing that transformation is possible when organizations commit to change from within and work together to promote ethical business practices.
Moving forward, the initiative envisions the development of an
Integrity Pact and the continued engagement of signatories and new partners. As stated by Mauricio López, Executive Director of the Global Compact Network Colombia: “Networks and initiatives are built by working hand in hand.”
Main accomplishments
- The Collective Action Against Corruption in the Health Sector was launched and signed by 11 companies.
- The signatories become pioneers in the implementation of the first Collective Action in the health sector in Colombia, which aims to become an international benchmark in this area.
