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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