PAMI faces clinic appointment suspension as new referral centre scheme rolls out

Clinics that serve PAMI beneficiaries across Argentina have stopped scheduling new external appointments, protesting a payment backlog that the CAPRESS head described as “Hay un 102% de retraso en el valor prestacional que paga el PAMI.” The suspension, which began on June 16, does not affect already programmed services, emergencies or on‑call duties, but the providers warned that further measures could follow if negotiations do not resolve the delays.

Meanwhile, PAMI’s Berisso office announced a new “Centros de Referencia” model that will reorganize specialist and diagnostic appointments for roughly 18,000 retirees in the area. The system groups cardiology, traumatology, ophthalmology and imaging services at a single reference centre per affiliate while preserving patients’ freedom to choose other providers. Director Pablo Swar said, “Trabajamos por un PAMI ordenado, eficiente y cerca de cada afiliado,” and the rollout is set to be fully operational within 60 days.