In a statement, the union attributed the state of this sector to the policies of President Javier Milei, “characterized by a strong process of disinvestment expressed in budget cuts, defunding of programs, and mass layoffs.”

For the current administration, this is an expense and therefore must be minimized. This position was also expressed in Argentina’s withdrawal from the World Health Organization, the statement adds.

For his part, Flavio Vergara, a member of the ATE National Coordination for this sector, warned about inequality and commodification.

“We are going through a context in which health care is no longer a human right and is becoming more than ever a commodity. Those who have money can guarantee it, while the rest have to go begging in a public system without resources, whose workers must make enormous efforts to provide decent conditions to the population,” he stated.

ATE also warned about the dismantling of key programs such as those aimed at providing medicines to people with cancer and other diseases.

This affected and put the lives of citizens at risk. The Executive Branch also proceeded to close the National Agency for Public Production of Medicines, which allowed for price regulation in the pharmaceutical market, and since then, prices have increased substantially, he indicated.

These regressive measures, in part, allowed the goal of zero deficit to be achieved. However, the direct impact on the population is highly negative. ATE will continue to demand that the Government, at all levels, change course and invest in the health system, in order to make it sustainable and allow access to this fundamental human right for all citizens, he stated.

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