Argentina's OSEF redirects staff to pharmacies amid surge in drug demand and reaches debt settlement with Autofarma

The Obra Social del Estado Fueguino (OSEF) ordered the immediate return of personnel who had been assigned to other public agencies so they could reinforce the organization’s own pharmacies. President Gustavo García said the move responds to a “critical and urgent institutional need” as the pharmacies are facing a historic and sustained increase in medication demand, which has caused longer waiting times but also reflects improved drug availability.

In a separate development, OSEF announced it has reached a settlement with supplier Autofarma to restructure a debt of roughly four billion pesos. The agreement includes a partial write‑down, an initial payment and a quota‑based repayment plan, allowing the social health insurer to ensure salary payments for its workers and to restock its pharmacies. García confirmed, “Yesterday we met with the owners. We have reached an agreement.”