Argentina's PAMI audit and health insurer crisis intensify

The national health insurer PAMI sent an audit team from Buenos Aires to the municipal Hospital of San Marcos Sud, accusing it of irregularities while the hospital and local municipalities are still waiting seven to nine months for reimbursement of services provided to retirees. The audit, described by local mayor Claudia Godoy as “desmedido” and akin to a raid, is seen by officials as a step to accelerate pending payments that total around seven million pesos.

At the same time, the federal government declared five union‑run health insurance entities in crisis after audits uncovered persistent financial imbalances, missing accounting records, delayed provider payments and regulatory violations. The Superintendence of Health Services ordered the entities to submit contingency plans within 15 days, imposing special supervision but not immediate closure. Both actions reflect mounting tensions over the financing of Argentina’s health system under President Javier Milei, with provincial leaders, municipalities and trade unions demanding clearer solutions and planning protests outside the PAMI headquarters in Córdoba.