Vaca Muerta boom drives pharmacy expansion and infrastructure strain in Neuquén

Farmacity entered Argentina's Patagonia by acquiring a 50% stake in Farmacias del Pueblo for about US$15 million, adding roughly 40 new pharmacy outlets and employing around 400 workers in Neuquén and parts of Río Negro. The move follows the retailer’s earlier expansion into Mendoza and reflects a strategy to grow alongside the region’s oil‑and‑gas surge tied to Vaca Muerta.

In the nearby city of Añelo, the logistic hub of Vaca Muerta, rapid population growth from oil‑field activity has overwhelmed local services. The municipality recorded 1,400 new residents in 2024, 1,700 in 2025 and 546 in early 2026, straining schools, hospitals, housing and basic utilities. Mayor Fernando Banderet urged incoming families to relocate only if they have secured employment, warning that the cost of living and housing shortage are escalating.

Both developments illustrate how the Vaca Muerta hydrocarbon boom is reshaping the local economy and pressuring public infrastructure in Argentina’s Neuquén province.