Today during our healthcare visit in Buenos Aires, we first went to Sanatorio Mater Dei, a nonprofit private hospital located in Palermo and is considered one of the best hospital in the city. The hospital performs around 60 to 7o surgeries per day and serves a very large population in the surrounding area. Because the hospital is mainly funded through insurance companies, the hospital is able to maintain modern facilities and a very clean environment. The building had five floors, eight operating rooms, and even a chapel for patients and families. One unique aspect was that some nurse were also nuns, creating a strong sense of compassion and connection with patients. Although the hospital is private, its mission focuses more on dignity and quality care than luxury of profit. We also learned that patient demographics have changed over time, with the average age of patients increasing significantly.
After that we toured Hospital Fernandez which is a public hospital that is funded by the municipalities and additional outside support. Unlike that private hospital, Fernandez has 850 beds and provides healthcare to everyone regardless of insurance statues. Even though the hospital was not as modern or appealing as Mater Dei, it still contained highly respected physicians and specialized departments, especially in dermatology and neurosurgery. The hospital also works closely with the University of Buenos Aires and trains around 100 nursing students. During the pandemic the hospital dramatically expanded staffing and ICU capacity, using the pandemic as an opprotunity for structural transformation. Finally, we visited Clinica Bazterrica, which was a smaller private clinic that was funded through insurance companies that offered modern amenities but did not provide oncology or transplant services.
Public and private delivery systems differ a lot in accessibility, finding and the overall experience for patients. Public hospitals are more affordable and accessible because they provide care to everyone. However they face overcrowding, outdated facilities, and slower service die to limited funding. On the other hand, private hospital and clinics usually offer cleaner environments, faster care, and better amenities because the receive financial support from insurance companies and private payments. However, these benefits come at a much higher cost and are usually only available to wealthier individuals who can afford insurance or private care.
