Costly Argentine health sector faces grave challenges

Subject

The Argentine health sector.

Significance

In August 2016 President Mauricio Macri announced the creation of a universal health coverage system to improve low-income sectors’ access to healthcare services. One year later, implementation is still pending. There have been no major improvements in recent years, and the issue does not appear to be at the top of the government’s agenda.

Impacts

• The lack of political priority given to enhancing health indicators does not suggest medium-term improvements.
• Pensioners in particular will face increasing shortfalls in service.
• Long delays in medical treatment will make it difficult to improve outcomes.