President Javier Milei’s administration will abolish Argentina’s national cancer institute due to operational inefficiencies. The Health Ministry highlighted issues such as duplicated programs and expired medicines. Despite assurances of program continuity, the fate of the agency’s staff is uncertain, and recent protests indicate widespread public concern over health care cuts and workforce reductions.
The government of President Javier Milei has officially declared the elimination of Argentina’s national cancer institute, the Instituto Nacional del Cáncer. This decision was announced by the Health Ministry, which stated that the closure aims to address “duplicity of tasks” and to enhance administrative oversight. The institute’s responsibilities will be integrated into the Health Ministry, as outlined in their public statement on the X social platform.
The Health Ministry cited various operational issues, including “logistical problems” tied to the distribution of medicines nearing expiration, inefficient procurement practices, and redundant programs. Furthermore, they noted that certain functions were already being executed by other governmental entities. The administration underscored instances of “serious failures” in drug management, highlighting a controversial 2023 purchase that led to the disposal of “400,000 units of expired morphine” during former President Alberto Fernández’s administration.
Officials assured that the restructuring would not disrupt any ongoing programs supported by the Instituto Nacional del Cáncer, labeling the move as an administrative correction. However, the Ministry did not specify whether any of the agency’s 183 employees would face layoffs, especially given the context of Milei’s extensive budget cuts affecting health services.
Recently, numerous health organizations, unions of medical professionals, patient advocacy groups, and human rights organizations demonstrated in Buenos Aires, protesting against Milei’s governance due to staff terminations, insufficient health care funding, and reductions in medical resources. This announcement aligns with a broader trend under Milei’s leadership, which has seen significant budget cuts to various state institutions, including the INCAA national film institute and the Women, Gender & Diversity Ministry, along with the INADI anti-discrimination agency.
Over the past weekend, President Milei, accompanied by his state transformation and deregulation minister, Federico Sturzenegger, celebrated the dismissal of over 40,000 public-sector employees in 2023.
In summary, President Javier Milei’s administration has undertaken the decision to abolish Argentina’s national cancer institute, citing redundancies and efficiency issues. Although reassurances have been made regarding program continuity, the implications for the agency’s employees remain unclear amid broader cuts to public health services. The response from various health advocacy groups reflects significant public concern over the exacerbating health care challenges under this government’s reform measures.
Original Source: www.batimes.com.ar
