Conflicts in the field of Health are multiplying, with strong demands for salary increases and greater resources, given the adjustment of public spending carried out by the Government in institutions. It is the case of the Garrahan Hospitals y Laura Bonapartewhere doctors and workers have deepened protests in recent weeks, amid announcements of restructuring and change of command of the authorities.
In this framework, from the government of Javier Miley They promote the idea of getting rid of health centers that remain under national jurisdiction. This is what the Chief of Staff expressed today, Guillermo Francos. “The issue of hospitals is an issue that we have to clarify as a national policy. Does it make sense for the Nation to be in charge of hospitals or not? Health is a responsibility of the provinces,” he stated.
“The management of hospitals should be in the hands of the provinces -Francos continued-. It is not logical that the Nation has a hospital here and does not have it elsewhere. It is an issue that we have to consider.”
The coordinating minister gave these definitions in a radio interview Mitrewhen asked about the situation that the Garrahan Hospital is going through, after the 48-hour strike demanding a salary increase. Regarding the pediatric establishment, which had a change of authorities on the Board of Directors after the controversy over the $500,000 bonus, he said that “it is an important hospital for the country, because it sets a national policy,” but that “we will have to see which one.” It is the best form of its management and administration.”
“Argentina’s problem is how to get the best result from what is invested. That has always been the Argentine deficit from public policies,” Francos stressed.
The Chief of Staff revealed the official view on the direction of all the national public management health establishments. As is happening with state companies and other national organizations, which were closed or seek to be privatized, the Government is sympathetic to the idea of getting rid of hospitals that depend on the resources of the national State.
In it Hospital Laura Bonapartespecialized in mental health and addictions, the conflict broke out at the beginning of October, when Doctors and workers were notified that the hospital would be closed. Last Thursday, the institution’s staff carried out a joint march with the Garrahan Hospital “in defense of mental health” to protest against the adjustment plan promoted by the Ministry of Health.
After several days of mobilization and protest, the Government seemed to back down with the measure and stated that in reality The institution will face a “restructuring”although he questioned the volume and magnitude of the items he receives, compared to the number of patients treated. The Deputy Minister of Health, Cecilia Loccisanosaid that “the way the hospital is, it is unviable” and expressed that the decision to make the changes arises from an April 2023 audit carried out by the General Audit Office of the Nation (SAYING) in which it revealed that there was “non-compliance with the Mental Health Law and the rights of patients.”
Currently, the national government has under direct management four national hospitals: the mentioned Laura Bonapartethe hospital Baldomero Sommerspecialized in leprosy; the hospital Ramon Carrilloaimed at intellectual disabilities; and the hospital Innslocated in Morón. In addition, it has the National Institute of Psychophysical Rehabilitation of the South “Dr. Juan Otimio Tesone” (Inareps).
There are others 7 public health institutions to which the Nation transfers resourcesamong which Garrahan is included. They are known as Comprehensive Medical Care Service for the Community (SAMIC). Highly complex hospitals appear in this group, such as The Crossing (Province of Buenos Aires-Florencio Varela), Upper Basin (PBA- Cañuelas), El Calafate (Santa Cruz), the Esteban Echeverria (PBA), the Dr. René Favaloro General Acute Hospital (PBA-La Matanza) y SAMIC Hospital President Néstor Kirchner (PBA-La Matanza).
These last health centers, which operate autonomously, already have a partial transfer to the provinces and municipalities, which provide part of the financing for their support. In the case of Garrahan, 20% of the resources depend on the government of the City of Buenos Aires.