Milei against public health in Argentina
By María Josefina Arce
The economic policies of Argentine President Javier Milei continue to wreak havoc in key sectors such as health, which is facing budget cuts and an exodus of professionals due to the loss of purchasing power of their salaries in the face of inflation.
The health situation is truly critical. Basic services in public health centers have been affected. This is the case of the most important pediatric hospital in the South American country, considered by experts as a reference in Latin America.
The Garrahan Hospital treats 40% of pediatric cancer patients and resolves 70% of complex congenital heart defects that require intervention in the first three months of life.
The institution, located in the capital city of Buenos Aires, is threatened by a sensitive program that only this center performs, lung transplants which has saved the lives of numerous children and adolescents over the years.
This scenario is similar in many hospitals in the country, denounced the workers, whose protests prevented the closure announced by the government last October of the Laura Bonaparte, which specializes in mental health and addictions.
Free treatment for HIV patients is also at risk. According to reports, the budget allocated for this purpose has decreased by 67% this year, and a further decrease in funding is expected for 2025.
NGOs have indicated that the government will provide 9,000 fewer treatments than necessary next year, although there is no evidence that the number of cases is decreasing.
Budget cuts have also affected the provision of medicines, which has a greater impact on the most vulnerable sectors of society.
Milei’s government policies seek to reduce the role of the state and increase privatization, which has a negative impact on equitable access and quality of health services.
Argentines have taken to the streets several times this year to demand the right to quality public health care, which is being threatened by the current government of Javier Milei.
