# Argentine pharmaceutical price disparities > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/argentine-pharmaceutical-price-disparities > Updated: 2026-09-05T17:04:30.000Z. Sources: 18. Developments: 2. Reports indicate that medication prices in Argentina are significantly higher than in international markets. A confidential study analyzing 17 essential active ingredients found that local prices were higher in 90% of comparisons, with a median markup of 3.1 to 1. The largest disparities were noted when comparing Argentina to India, Spain, and France. Specific chronic treatments showed extreme gaps, such as levothyroxine costing US$ 19.3 per month locally compared to a US$ 3.1 international median, and metformin costing US$ 26.1 versus US$ 5.3 abroad. These findings have been used to support government strategies for pharmaceutical market deregulation and increased direct imports. Healthcare officials have identified two primary drivers for these costs: general price increases and the introduction of expensive biological and oncological treatments. Within the direct medical spending of prepaid healthcare members, the proportion dedicated to medication has risen from 15% to between 35% and 38%. Furthermore, since 2002, medication prices have outpaced the Consumer Price Index (IPC) by 8.5%, widening the gap between medical costs and stagnant incomes. ## Timeline ### 2026-09-05: Argentina medication prices up to four times higher than abroad Hugo Magonza of the UAS reports that medication prices in Argentina are up to four times higher than in other countries, driven by rising costs and expensive new biological and oncological treatments. 4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/argentina-medication-prices-up-to-four-times-higher-than-abroad ### 2026-08-25: Argentina medication prices significantly exceed international markets A confidential report shows Argentine medication prices are 3.1 times higher than international medians, with some essential drugs costing up to 26 times more than in India. 14 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/argentina-medication-prices-triple-international-medians --- Cite as: Argentine pharmaceutical price disparities. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/argentine-pharmaceutical-price-disparities