Today was a day that focused on the private sector of the healthcare system and the Obras Sociales. We started our day with a presentation from Dr. Florencia about Medifé. Medifé is a private insurance provider that also had an Obras Sociales called ASE. After Milei’s new policies that affected the Obras Sociales’ role in healthcare, ASE has become much less of the focus, and now Medifé is the primary focus of the company. We took a break for lunch and then headed over to ICBA, a cardiovascular private hospital. Some of the directors and one of their nurses gave us a presentation on how their hospital runs and how it applies to health insurance, which is the focus of our trip. This hospital was the nicest facility we have seen yet and offers many more employee benefits for continuing education. At some of the other hospitals we had visited, doctors and nurses tended to have two jobs to make a living, whereas almost none of the employees at ICBA had to do that. We got to see three of their units and even went into the room where outpatient surgery is performed. After we went into the surgery room, one of the physicians even showed us a video from his last coronary bypass surgery and talked us through the procedure. This was by far the most fascinating hospital visit we’ve had yet, and the comparison to the other hospitals’ conditions is shocking.

Now that we have been to all types of hospitals, I want to reflect on the differences I have seen. The private hospitals have better facilities, more educated workers, and higher pay. The public hospitals have very dedicated workers, lower pay, and tend to lack adequate resources. This is because public hospitals are government-funded, and they don’t receive income from patients unless the patient has private insurance (which most do not). The public sector has touched my heart with its dedication to caring for communities, despite not being paid much. Many of the public hospitals had rusted beds, walls with peeling paint, and lacked up-to-date equipment that could make care more efficient. I wish the public sector could receive more aid because it has so much potential and is very resourceful with the little it has. Sadly, there is no easy solution, because the only way to get more funding is to raise taxes—which would mean the people who can afford and use private care would have to pay extra for hospitals they don’t even go to. I morally agree with Argentina’s belief that healthcare is a right for all people, and I love how much they work to keep their people safe. Economically, I understand the argument to stop giving out care that is not paid for. Overall, this experience has really opened my eyes to the struggles these groups face and has taught me so much more about healthcare in general.

See you tomorrow!!