The Dangers of Privatizing Health Care in Argentina

Milei's controversial health-care overhaul sparks protests



Argentina's President Javier Milei and Vice President Victoria Villarruel walk to the Metropolitan Cathedral, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on December 10, 2023. REUTERS/Cristina Sille

by Jill Langlois
February 14, 2024

When Javier Milei became Argentina's new president in November, the country's health insurance economy was left on shaky ground.

The election of the self-declared anarcho-capitalist—who was vocal about his promise to deregulate the economy by adopting the U.S. dollar as Argentina's official currency, eliminating the central bank and cutting back on state spending, among other drastic changes—left the country's long-delicate economy and already record-setting three-digit inflation in disarray. The Argentine peso was devalued by 55%, fuel went up 60%, the cost of beef soared 73%, and the price of diapers doubled.

"Today I have to fill up with petrol and I will see the increase then," Buenos Aires resident Paula Di Marzo told the Buenos Aires Times in December. "But petrol increases have been coming in recent weeks so I am already expecting a big hike."

Even before he took office, Milei vowed to also increase the privatization of state-owned companies, saying that "everything that can be in the hands of the private sector will be in the hands of the private sector," to Bueno Aires station Radio Mitre on November 20.

In one of Milei's first decisions as head of state, the populist politician signed a so-called mega-decree on December 20. The significant and widespread shift in Argentina's policy revoked or altered more than 300 norms across government portfolios, a substantial step toward his previously announced plan to shake up the country's economy.

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"We expect that, during his presidency, the role of private health providers will increase, which could heighten health inequality in the country and make health care unaffordable for the majority of the population," said BMI.

More:
https://www.thinkglobalhealth.org/article/dangers-privatizing-health-care-argentina