Law 114 states that the city government should ensure access to health is free, universal, equal, and with the highest level of quality. The care should be excellent and efficient, prioritising the return to family/community.
The legislators have focused their concerns in the health sector on the state of the public hospital system, which they believe could use major improvement. Their video highlighted the recent closing of the pediatric therapy centre in public Hospital Durand.
“These are services necessary for the health of the kids,” Hospital Durand doctor Oscar Trotta said in the video.
According to García Tuñón, drug addiction programmes have been cut and ambulances frequently refuse to enter the villas. “What are those kids supposed to do?” she asks. Her concerns stretch to the constant crowds at public hospitals and the lack of efficient attention to patients. She said Buenos Aires has some of the best doctors in the region, but fears they are overworked and without crucial supplies.
While these legislators argue for more money to be put towards health in 2013, Macri said Argentina has one of the best health systems in the world. “I am happy with how we have advanced,” he said. “There is much more to do but we are in a continual process of improvement.”