Overview:
  • Argentina's health care system is composed of three sectors: the public sector, financed through taxes; the private sector, Argentina spent 8% of its GDP in 2015 on health care expenditures. [1]
  • There were 5,012 health establishments operating in Argentina In January 2013 according to the Federal Registry of Health Establishments (Registro Federal de Establecimientos de Salud - REFES), it includs hospitals, clinics, and hospices, amongst others. The majority of the establishments (70% or 3,494 establishments) pertain to the private sector.[2]
  • Most hospitals have highly-trained personnel, many of whom have studied abroad. In some parts of the country, the hospitals may not have the most up-to-date equipment, but what is available is adequate for emergency situations. However, modernisation is taking place and this is reflected in the fact that Argentina is now a popular destination for 'medical tourists' who travel for plastic cosmetic surgery and other esthetic proceedures.
  • Serious medical problems requiring hospitalization and/or medical evacuation to your country of origin can cost thousands of dollars. Private physicians, clinics and hospitals often expect immediate cash payment for health services. A visit to a doctor costs anything from US$ 17 up to US$50 (for a specialist).
source: Jefferson Medical College
Division of the Health System: 
  • Public Sector: . Free health care for all is written into Argentina’s constitution. Standards vary, as do waiting times for consultant appointments and surgery. The public system is highly decentralized, as it is administered at the provincial level; often primary care will be regulated autonomously by each city. Since 2001, the number of Argentines relying on public services has seen an increase. According to 2000 figures, 37.4% of Argentines had no health insurance, 48.8% were covered byObras Sociales, 8.6% had private insurance plans, and 3.8% were covered by both Obras Sociales and private insurance schemes.[4] (wikipedia) 
  • The obras sociales, or union-backed health insurance funds for the use of employees or staff groups. There are more than 300 such health funds, with each chapter being organised according to the occupation of the beneficiary. Cover varies greatly, as does care provision. The public sector is funded and managed by Obras Sociales (Social Works), umbrella organizations for Argentine worker's unions. There are over 300 Obras Sociales in Argentina, each chapter being organized according to the occupation of the beneficiary. These organizations vary greatly in quality and effectiveness. The top 30 chapters hold 73% of the beneficiaries and 75% of resources Health Care in Latin America.[5] MSAS has established a Solidarity Redistribution Fund (FSR) to try to address these beneficiary inequities. Only workers employed in the formal sector are covered under Obras Sociales insurance schemes and after Argentina’s economic crisis of 2001, the number of people covered covered by these fell slightly (as unemployment increased and employment in the informal sector rose). In 1999, there were 8.9 million beneficiaries covered by Obras Sociales.[5] Prior to 2000, workers did not have the freedom of choosing which Obra Social they contributed to and were covered by. This situation gave rise to some problems; e. g. a teacher living in a city where the gastronomy workers' Obra Social provided better care than the teachers union's Obra Social could not freely switch plans even when it would have been in their best interest. This was mended in the year 2000 when National Decree 446/2000 was signed into law which established changes to the regulation of Obras Sociales,[6] allowing for workers to choose freely between Obras Sociales administered by different workers unions (although they are still obligated to adhere to one of the Obras and make regular payments). (wikipedia) 
  • Private. This covers nearly two million Argentines. They use private medical insurers. Expats report a broadly satisfactory provision of care. Private hospitals are usually better equipped and better staffed than in the other two systems.The private health care sector in Argentina is characterized by great heterogeneity and is made up of a great number of fragmented entities and small networks; it consists of over 200 organizations and covers approximately 2 million Argentines.[7] Private insurance often overlaps with other forms of health care coverage, making it difficult to estimate the degree to which beneficiaries are dependent on the public and private sectors. According to a 2000 report by the IRBC, foreign competition has increased in Argentina’s private sector, with Swiss, American and other Latin American health care providers entering the market in recent years. This has been accompanied by little formal regulation.[7]


[1]http://www.who.int/health_financing/documents/argentina_cavagnero.pdf
[2]Global Health Intelligence, "Global Health Intelligence". Retrieved 16 January 2015.
[3] Just landed: Argentina profile
[4] http://www.idrc.ca/en/ev-35159-201-1-DO_ThtshshOPIC.html
[5]Armando Barrientos "Reforming Health Insurance in Argentina and Chile" Health Policy and Planning 
[6] "texactdto446-2000". infoleg.mecon.gov.ar. Retrieved 2015-11-17.
[7]IDRC Reshaping Health Care in Latin Americahttp://www.idrc.ca/EN/Resources/Publications/Pages/IDRCBookDetails.aspx?PublicationID=265.