Curando heridas del conflicto: la atención en salud de las FARC-EP

Objective: To understand the configuration of health care within the FARC-EP during the armed conflict, prior to the signing of the Final Peace Accord. Methods: A qualitative study was conducted using an interpretive ethnographic approach, including five in-depth individual interviews and one group interview with nine participants. Data analysis was carried out through open and axial coding, using Excel® to organize and systematize the collected information. Results: Health care within the FARC-EP was directed toward meeting essential needs, primarily to maintain its members in optimal condition to fulfill political objectives. This model of care combined prevention, education in healthy habits, and the establishment of solidarity bonds, extending healthcare services to the community in remote areas with limited state presence. The ability of healthcare providers to save lives under adverse conditions was their greatest achievement, demonstrating remarkable adaptation to resource scarcity. Discussion: In a jungle and conflict setting, a model of care was configured, shaped by the socio-historical dynamics of war. This configuration is a clear example of how biological processes become embedded within the social sphere, creating an adaptive and community-centered healthcare system. The model underscores the significance of alternative health practices in marginalized contexts and in emergency situations, as an act of collective resilience. Keywords: health, armed conflict, FARC-EP, war medicine.