Argentinian retirees face three‑month medical blackout as PAMI dispute stalls care in Esquel

In Esquel, Chubut Province, a dispute between the public health insurer PAMI and the regional medical association CIMOCH has left roughly 8,500 retirees without any medical coverage for almost three months.

The affected seniors continue to have contributions deducted by ANSES while they cannot obtain consultations, diagnostic tests or treatments. Protesters gathered at Plaza San Martín, demanding an urgent solution. Nino Hernando, a representative of the local seniors council, said the situation is “unbearable” and highlighted that the town’s hospital cannot absorb the entire PAMI enrollee load. Carita Allen described the lengthy process required to obtain a single examination.

The crisis is confined to Esquel and surrounding areas and has not been reported in other Patagonian cities such as Puerto Madryn, Comodoro Rivadavia or Bariloche. Local officials have been urged to intervene to restore coverage.