Argentina running out of medical supplies

A report in the January 26 British Medical Journal reveals that
Argentina is running out of medical supplies and faces rising drug prices
as the country sinks deeper into economic crisis.

The report quotes Juan Carr, who heads Red Solidaria (Solidarity Network):
“We are facing true chaos. It is unprecedented. There is no medication
or treatments”. Hospitals have been forced to turn patients away and Red
Solidaria has called on the people to pool whatever drugs they have for
patients who need them to stay alive.

The BMJ reports that Argentina's health services are struggling
as the social security system for elderly people (PAMI) has “haemorrhaged
cash through bad management and corruption”. PAMI has not paid many of
its suppliers and the chain of payments from suppliers to chemists, hospitals
and health workers is breaking down.

Meanwhile, 700,000 private sector health jobs are at risk and at least
30% of pharmacies in Buenos Aires province face collapse if the government
cannot inject new funds immediately.

From Green Left Weekly, February 6, 2002.

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From GLW issue 479