Catamarca mental health system faces psychiatrist shortages and bed scarcity

The mental health system in Catamarca is facing significant operational challenges, according to warnings from the Hospital San Juan Bautista. Key issues include a shortage of specialized professionals, limited bed availability, and difficulties in patient referrals.

Specifically, while psychology services are available 24 hours a day, psychiatrists are not assigned to the Emergency sector during business days. This requires psychologists to coordinate with general clinicians during medical crises.

Capacity is also a major concern; of the 177 beds at Hospital San Juan Bautista, only 14 are dedicated to mental health. When these are full, patients are often placed in beds intended for other specialties, such as Neurology or Internal Medicine. Furthermore, the system struggles with a lack of day centers, residential facilities, and home care options, making it difficult to transfer patients to appropriate care settings.