Argentina retirees protest collapsing health benefits from PAMI and OSFA

Retired workers in Argentina staged protests to denounce a deepening crisis in the country’s public health schemes. In Tucumán, self‑organized pensioners gathered at the local PAMI office, warning that cuts to free medicines, the introduction of illegal medical fees and the loss of specialist appointments are driving seniors toward indigence and, in their words, "directly condemning us to death." Their complaints highlighted stagnant pensions that do not cover basic living costs and long waiting times that can stretch into months.

A separate outcry came from Daniel Santeufemia, head of the Union of Sub‑officers and Pensioners, who described a parallel collapse of the OSFA health plan for military retirees. He reported six months of irregular coverage, out‑of‑pocket payments for consultations and tests, and even a suicide linked to the lack of care. Santeufemia blamed a 2022 presidential decree that split the former joint health system, leaving OSFA underfunded despite monthly contributions of roughly 50 billion pesos.

Both groups are demanding immediate restoration of promised benefits, better funding, and protection of the public health institutions that serve Argentina’s aging population.