PAMI doctors launch 96-hour strike in Argentina over pay

Medical professionals affiliated with the Association of Professionals of the Integral Medical Care Program (APPAMIA) have initiated a 96-hour national strike in Argentina. The protest, running from October 13 to October 16, is a response to insufficient payments from PAMI, the country's social security agency for retirees and pensioners.

Physicians and dentists are demanding an update to the per-capita fees paid by the agency. Currently, primary care doctors receive approximately $2,700 per affiliate, while dentists receive $374. Professionals are requesting an increase to $4,500 for medical capitation and $3,000 for dental capitation to cover rising operational costs.

The strike is causing significant disruptions, with many scheduled appointments being postponed or rescheduled. While some regions, such as San Juan, have implemented minimum services to ensure emergency coverage and the issuance of prescriptions, the financial crisis is also impacting private clinics. In Mendoza, healthcare providers have warned that the gap between PAMI's reimbursement rates and rising inflation puts many institutions at risk of closure or forced mergers.