Day two in Buenos Aires gave us our first in-depth look at Argentina’s healthcare system and the challenges that come with balancing public and private care. Our day started at the Tomas Reggio Primary Health Center, a clinic located in a lower-income neighborhood that provides free healthcare services to the surrounding community. One of the first things that stood out to me was that the clinic relies entirely on paper records rather than digital systems, which immediately highlighted differences in efficiency and organization compared to healthcare facilities in the United States. The clinic is funded through a combination of municipal support, donations, and assistance from Austral University, while many of the doctors and nurses volunteer their time. Even with limited funding and staffing, the clinic still provides essential services such as checkups, dental care, medications, and EKGs, showing how important community support is to maintaining healthcare accessibility.

Throughout the day, a major topic of discussion was how income inequality impacts healthcare delivery in Argentina. At Austral Hospital, we learned more about the country’s healthcare structure and the relationship between private insurance and public care. Patients with private insurance generally receive quicker access to hospitals and specialists, while others rely on the public system. One aspect I found particularly interesting was that insurance providers cannot charge individuals more based on their health conditions or medical history. While this creates more equal pricing for patients, it also creates financial pressure on healthcare providers and insurance companies. We also discussed inefficiencies within the system, including how private hospitals rely on privately owned ambulance companies, which can slow down care coordination and patient transfers. From a business perspective, it was interesting seeing how healthcare systems must balance affordability, efficiency, accessibility, and financial sustainability all at the same time.

One of the most meaningful parts of the day was visiting Santa Marta Children’s Home, where we spent time with local children and practiced our Spanish (I knew very little). Later, at Universidad Austral, we spoke with students about the differences between healthcare in Argentina and the United States while enjoying lunch together. Overall, today gave me a much broader perspective on how healthcare systems operate beyond just patient care. I’ve started to realize how heavily healthcare is influenced by economics, management decisions, government policy, and resource distribution. Seeing these challenges firsthand has made me even more interested in the business and management side of healthcare and how leadership can impact the quality and accessibility of care.