Public health systems face administrative crises in Argentina and Mexico

Public health systems in Argentina and Mexico are facing significant administrative and financial challenges. In Catamarca, Argentina, the Obra Social de los Empleados Públicos (OSEP) is experiencing a crisis affecting over 160,000 affiliates. Reported issues include critical delays in medical referrals for oncology and cardiology treatments, frequent digital platform collapses preventing medication authorization, and instances of fraud involving electronic prescriptions. Additionally, workers have reported the persistent illegal collection of extra medical fees during private consultations.

In the State of Mexico, approximately 9,000 health workers have faced unpaid salaries due to a complex bureaucratic chain involving multiple government agencies. The delay involves the coordination between the Ministry of Finance, IMSS-Bienestar, the state Ministry of Finance, and the Institute of Health Services of the State of Mexico (ISEM). The responsibility for the payment failure is distributed across these entities, depending on whether the issue lies in the release of federal funds, the processing of payroll by IMSS-Bienestar, or the transfer and integration of data by state authorities.