Argentina's health system in crisis as Milei slashes budget, prompting nationwide protests

The government of President Javier Milei has cut more than 63 billion pesos from the national health budget, reducing the executed budget by about 40 % compared with 2023. Key programs such as the Remediar medication scheme were reduced from 79 to just 3 drugs, the PAMI pension‑health fund was trimmed by 40 %, and hospital occupancy nationwide is near 90 %. The cuts have left over 742 000 people without health coverage and caused spikes in infant and maternal mortality.

In response, a massive “Marcha Federal de Salud” was organised on 20 May, drawing 60 000 participants in Buenos Aires and close to 100 000 across the country. Workers, unions, university groups, patients and mayors marched from the Ministry of Health to Plaza de Mayo and staged parallel demonstrations in provinces such as Rosario, Córdoba, Chaco and Jujuy. Provincial Health Minister Nicolás Kreplak and Governor Axel Kicillof led a meeting of more than 60 municipal leaders, denouncing the “criminal” adjustment and urging the restoration of funding. The Association of State Workers (ATE) and other unions warned that the austerity measures would lead to a “catastrophic” health crisis.

protestors highlighted the loss of essential services, including vaccines, cancer treatment, and mental‑health care, and warned that the continued depletion of resources could overwhelm the public health system.

"Frente a una crisis sanitaria cada vez más profunda, la única respuesta que encuentran es atacar al IOMA y politizar la discusión", said Kreplak, reflecting the heated political dispute over the funding cuts.