Another amazing day in Argentina! We woke up bright and early and got a quick breakfast before boarding the bus. The first person we spoke with today was Dr. Daniel Ferrante, the current Deputy Minister of Health of CABA. He outlined the Argentine healthcare system and discussed a variety of struggles such as waste of resources, inflation, and infrastructure. One thing I found particularly interesting was his discussion of the covid pandemic. Before the pandemic, there had been struggles to integrate technology into the healthcare system, as medical personnel felt controlled and that they were investing more time with their computers than with patients. He said that the virtual shift pushed the older generation that was more averse to this technology to adopt the new systems, and this can hopefully aid in integration for healthcare.

Next, we went to talk to Dr. Luis Scervino, who is the current Director of the Obra Social de Obras Sanitarias. I was very excited for his talk, as the social security sector is very complex and is the sector my group will be presenting on near the end of our stay. Put simply, this sector is composed of unions and relates to everyone that holds a formal job. There are unions for public workers, university staff, retirees, people who specialize in a craft, and more. These unions are important not only for providing efficient healthcare, but also protecting labor rights. However, in times of economic hardship, this whole sector is at risk. Since obras sociales is funded through a portion of employees’ paychecks, inflation and unemployment reduce the funds available and overall purchasing power. This reduces the influence of the union and can put people in those occupations further at risk.

After discussing what we learned, we had lunch and then went on a bus tour! I had so much fun in the neighborhood of La Boca. The walls were an array of vibrant colors, there were a variety of goods for sale, and live music and light chatter filled the area (look at the photos below!). It was easy to get lost in the sea of color and energy. I made it my mission to find gifts for my family back at home, and I’m happy to report success. The bus tour continued to San Telmo, and we explored an indoor area with a mix of stands and small restaurants one floor down. We ended at Plaza de Mayo, where we had the chance to see La Casa Rosada and witness the ceremony to lower the Argentinian flag. I had so much fun today, and I can’t wait to continue learning more about Argentina!