Argentina: Courts rule on medical malpractice and PAMI service delays

In Mar del Plata, Argentina, a civil court has ordered Sanatorio Belgrano and three doctors to pay an indemnity of approximately $136,158,788 plus interest following a medical malpractice ruling. The case stems from a 2010 cardiovascular surgery that resulted in permanent damage to a patient's brachial plexus, causing loss of strength and mobility in his left arm.

Separately, in Concordia, the Federal Court has intervened regarding service delays at PAMI (the national health insurance for retirees). A judge ordered the institution to provide 100% coverage and deliver a necessary knee prosthesis within 10 days for a 68-year-old patient. The ruling emphasized that administrative disputes between health agents and providers cannot obstruct access to essential medical care, noting a 'structural problem' within the institution.