Argentinian court orders health insurers to fund growth‑hormone therapy for 13‑year‑old boy

A federal court in Argentina granted an amparo filed by the mother of a 13‑year‑old boy diagnosed with growth‑hormone deficiency, ordering the private insurer Ribera Salud and the workers’ health‑care scheme OSCEARA to provide immediate, comprehensive coverage of somatotropina treatment. The medication, costing about 11 million pesos per month, is critical during the patient’s pubertal growth spurt, and any delay could cause irreversible damage.

The ruling also referred the case to the Federal Prosecutor’s Office to investigate the insurers’ directors for alleged contempt of court and abandonment of the patient. The decision highlighted the precedent of Lionel Messi, who suffered the same hormonal deficit in childhood and received treatment funded by FC Barcelona, underscoring the importance of uninterrupted therapy.

The order aims to ensure the teenager receives the necessary medication without further financial barriers, reflecting broader concerns about access to high‑cost medical treatments in Argentina.