Argentina's hospitals hit by staff pay delays and coronary unit shutdown

Doctors and other employees at the private Sanatorio Río Negro in the Alto Valle region (Cinco Saltos and Cipolletti) reported not having received their April salaries as of 15 May. The unpaid wages have prompted resignations and warnings of further departures, raising concerns about the continuity of patient care. The clinic has not issued an official comment on the delays.

In San Rafael, Mendoza, the director of Hospital Schestakow confirmed that its coronary unit was closed for three days, a fact that sparked public debate after complaints from the Asociación Mendocina de Profesionales de la Salud (Ampros). The closure added to worries about the availability of specialized cardiac services.

A staff member at Sanatorio Río Negro lamented the situation, saying, “Hace años es igual. Es una lástima tener que dejar de trabajar porque no te pagan, pero hace unos meses empezaron otra vez a hacer re extenso el tema del pago y hay muchas familias que dependen únicamente de ese trabajo.”