2024-10-23 15:02:00
just a few days ago Mario Lugones has been sworn in as the National Government’s new Minister of Health, a role which currently involves addressing a number of urgent and complex challenges which have not been adequately addressed in recent months. Expectations on his management are high, as he will have to resolve important issues to improve the situation of a sector in crisis.
Despite having solid experience in the healthcare field, Lugones inherits a healthcare system weakened by a lack of state participation. In the nine months of Javier Milei’s administration, the absence of concrete actions by the Ministry has generated a void that must be urgently filled. In this sense, the implementation of recovery plans that guarantee access to basic services and the strengthening of health facilities will be a fundamental and important challenge to address.
One of the main problems the new minister will have to face will be the high cost of medicines. Since 2019, spending on drugs has grown worryingly, going from 19% to 40% of total healthcare spending. This increase has had a negative impact on the availability of resources for other treatments and professional care. Furthermore, the lack of agreements with the pharmaceutical industry has aggravated the situation, as prices continue to rise without effective regulation.
So far we have not seen a fully defined adequate budget for the healthcare sector, which is extremely worrying and further aggravates the complicated situation of social works and prepaid medicines. In this context, it will be necessary to evaluate which of these institutions are sustainable and what type of subsidies those with lower incomes need to ensure their functioning. Namely, It is necessary to define which ones will remain functional and with the ability to provide responses in compliance with the Mandatory Health Plan (PMO) established by the legislation.
Another fundamental aspect is the creation and strengthening of Technology Assessment Agencyresponsible for analyzing the feasibility of integrating new technologies and drugs into the healthcare system. This task is essential to avoid the adoption of expensive treatments that the country is unable to finance. Furthermore, it will be crucial to effectively integrate the public and private sectors under the supervision of the Ministry of Health to reduce double spending and duplication of efforts, factors that currently fragment the healthcare system.
On the other hand, it is worth underlining that issues such as dengue, the implementation of effective vaccination policies and coordination with the provinces on health matters, are issues which, if not treated with the urgency they require, can further aggravate the crisis that the healthcare system is going through.
The health system crisis, for both patients and professionals, worsens with each of these challenges. High costs, lack of resources and poor coordination between different actors have led to an unsustainable situation. The new minister will have to act quickly and precisely to reverse this trend and guarantee a health system that works properly for everyone. However, without clear political decisions and adequate financial support, the crisis could continue to worsen.
Mario Koltan is president of Boreal Salud.
by Mario Koltan
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