Argentina's 2026 budget trims university funds and slashes cancer program

The 2026 national budget for Argentina allocates 171.893 billion pesos to the National University of Cuyo (UNCuyo), representing about 3.7 % of the total university share and making it the seventh‑largest recipient. Most of the funds are earmarked for Education and Culture (169.952 billion pesos), with additional allocations for the university hospital (1.758 billion) and Science, Technology and Innovation (181 million). Within UNCuyo, the Faculty of Agrarian Sciences receives the highest internal budget at 428 million pesos, followed by Medical Sciences, Economics and Philosophy and Letters.

At the same time, the Health Ministry’s cancer program (Program 65) sees a 5 billion‑peso reduction—about a 33 % cut—from its original 15.061 billion‑peso allocation, part of a broader 2.3‑trillion‑peso adjustment across more than 200 sectors. Officials argue the cut stems from efficiencies gained by merging the former National Cancer Institute into the ministry, but staff numbers have fallen from 209 in 2023 to 89 now. Reports indicate drug stock depletion and a sharp rise in rejected oncology medication requests, such as an 84 % increase in refusals in Santa Fe province. Oncology groups warn that these cuts could jeopardize cancer treatment and monitoring nationwide.