He brand new Minister of Health, Mario Lugones, He began his administration with a blunt decision: the doctor asked all members of the Board of Directors of the hospital to resign. Garrahan Hospital. In detail, the measure was taken after the board granted a $500,000 bonus for the institution’s staff
As detailed by the Government, this additional was granted without prior consultations or evaluations, which generated strong discomfort in the ministry. In this way, Lugones debuted by fulfilling the maximum mandate of President Javier Milei, not to miss any measure that could affect the “fiscal responsibility“.
In this way, the health portfolio assured that the additional was confirmed without prior consultation or evaluation. Thus, the decision to request the resignation goes along the same lines proposed by the Government of maintaining the “fiscal responsibility“in order to achieve the”zero deficit“.
The Board of Directors of the Garrahan Hospital is made up of doctors Oscar Imventarza (general surgeon, liver transplant specialist)Patricia Elmeaudy (sanitary doctor, pediatrician)Oscar Pérez (pediatrician and medical examiner)Andrés Scarsi (doctor) and Silvia Prieri (specialist in Planning and Design of Social Policies).
The new minister came to the government to succeed Mario Russo, who resigned after citing “personal problems.” Yesterday, Lugones signed as minister and, after 24 hours in office, he took his first measure.
The response of the Garrahan workers
From the Hospital, the staff anticipated that if the national government “blocks“the bonus announced by the institution’s board of directors”they are going to cause a tsunami”. The health personnel that brings together professionals and technicians from the Garrahan Hospital organized in the Association of Professionals and Technicians (APyT) came out to cross the statements of the new head of the Health portfolio, Mario Lugones that “asked for resignation” of the Garrahan Board of Directors for announcing the granting of a bonus of $500 thousand pesos for all the staff of that hospital.
Given this, the General Secretary of the Association of Professionals and Technicians, Norma Lezama, warned: “Lugones’ statements do not surprise us: he is a representative of private health, his conception is health as a business and that is why he is “shocked” that Garrahan staff receive a one-time bonus of $500 thousand pesos. Obviously: He is going to earn several million pesos per month as an official, and he does not live with a salary below the poverty basket. like those of us who support the most important highly complex pediatric hospital in South America every day.”
Sources within the Garrahan Hospital confirmed that the bonus for workers was going to be financed through the institution’s funds, obtained by charging social works. In this way, they justified the lack of consultation that denounced the Minister of Health.
Ms. Lezama completed: “we have been in conflict for 7 weeks. We achieved the announcement of this bonus of $500 thousand pesos which we consider a step forward, but insufficient: we do not pay the “one-time” rent, or the services, or the transportation or the food expenses of our families.
“That is why we demand that it be incorporated into the basic salary of all staff. But in addition, we anticipate Mr. Lugones, Minister Caputo and the entire national government: if they mess with the Garrahan, if they block the bonus, if they think they are going to frighten, they did not understand anything at all and They are going to unleash a tsunami of indignation. We ratify the measures of force of October 8 and 9, including mobilization to the Ministry of Economy on the 8th. You are going to have to continue listening to us because we are not going to give up: for the right to a salary according to the basket that we deserve, for the public hospital and because We proudly have the Garrahan shirt and identity“said the medical professional.
Who is Mario Lugones
Mario Ivan Lugones was born on July 28, 1947. Graduated in 1972 from the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Buenos Aires (UBA), with a specialization in cardiology, Lugones built an outstanding career in the field over the years. field of medicineboth in the private and public environment.
He obtained his specialization in cardiology at the University of Salvador in 1976. Furthermore, in 2011, the doctor expanded his training and obtained the title of Doctor specializing in Public Healthonce again at the UBA.
In his professional career, he took his first steps at the Dr. Cosme Argerich Hospital, where he worked as a concurrent doctor in the cardiology area for 4 years. At the end of his stay at the institution, Lugones assumed more responsibilities in the Coronary Unit.
One of the highest points of his journey as a doctor is marked by his time in the Güemes Sanatorium. The health professional was there from until 1981 and held different positions, including Head of Guard and Head of Clinicalso of the Coronary Unit.
It was in 2000 that the new Minister of Health founded and presided over the Sanatorio Güemes Foundation. There, the cardiologist focused on medical teaching and clinical research, an experience that was highlighted by the Government when Lugones was appointed as the new minister.
Among other institutions, Lugones’ journey saw him collaborate with the Malvinas Sanatorium, the Wood Workers’ Union Polyclinic, the Favaloro Foundation, the National Institute of Social Services for Retirees and Pensioners (INSSJP/PAMI) and the Anchorena Sanatorium.
The new minister was previously linked to the management of La Libertad Avanza, since Lugones was an advisor on health issues from the first days of the Government, having participated in various cabinet meetings without having an official designation. Finally, the cardiologist was made official as the new Minister as of this Thursday night.
Source: Ambito
