In Argentina, the University Hospital of the University of Buenos Aires (UBA) is in a critical situation. A symbol of the free public education and health system, the institution is financially suffocated by budget cuts made by the government of Javier Milei. On Tuesday, September 24, a mobilization took place to denounce this situation.
Published on: 09/25/2024 – 11:20
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With our correspondent in Buenos Aires, Theo Consciousness
Several thousand people came to show solidarity with the healthcare staff and students at the José San Martin University Hospital. We have a double problemexplains Andrea, less resources and more patients “A doctor in the infectious diseases department, she prefers not to give her last name. ” We are missingsaid this woman, of medicines to treat patients. With the crisis, many can no longer afford to use the private health system and come to our hospital. »
Budget not updated
Despite annual inflation of 236%, the government has not updated the hospital’s budget, which is currently operating at 50% of its capacity. Esteban Gonzalez Ballerga, who heads the gastroenterology department at UBA, is bitter: ” We have patients who suffer from cancer but we cannot operate on them because we do not have the necessary equipment. Argentinehealth is still a right guaranteed by the Constitution. But we cannot ensure this right due to lack of resources »
In mid-September 2024, Parliament voted to update the funding of universities, on which the José-San-Martin hospital depends. Javier Miley immediately made it known that he would use his veto presidential election to block this text in order to preserve ” at all costs » balanced budget.
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