Javier Milei’s government continues with its chainsaw policy And, in the last hours, the Ministry of Health formalized the dismissal of 40% of the workers of the HIV response addressHepatitis, and tuberculosis. The head of the Health Portfolio, Mario Lugones, had already advanced at the beginning of January the intention of the administration of not renewing some 1,400 state contracts.
In detail, management is a key body in the implementation of public health policies in Argentina, established under the National Law of Integral Response to HIV, Viral Hepatitis, other Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) and Tuberculosis (TBC). In addition, it was also Farewell 30% of the vaccine management staff.
Government cuts in the response against HIV
The government measure follows the line established by Lugones in health. The minister had advanced, at the beginning of January, that from his portfolio he would not renew about 1,400 contracts in the framework of a process of “Restructuring” and under the argument of having detected irregularities – not informed – in them.
Faced with layoffs, from the National Front for the health of people with HIV, hepatitis and tuberculosis They warned that this measure leaves the ministry without capacity to respond to diseases. In that sense, from the group they reported that, in recent times, there is a Notorious increase in HIV diagnoses and tuberculosis, So “the dismantling of the addresses and the elimination of coordination that develop public health policies It is criminal“
On the dismissed workers, from the front they detailed that they “were not only responsible for acquiring and distributing medications and treatments for people throughout the country; to plan and execute prevention actionsbut also performed estimates and studies on the most vulnerable populationswhat allowed to design Effective intervention strategies“
In this way, criticism also recalled that Law 27,675 holds the government responsible for “guaranteeing the provision of medicines and supplies to the entire population“And they explained that the intention of delegating this role to the provinces” attempts against the optimal use of public resources that should be available to meet the needs of the community. “Finally, the front statement concluded:”Public health cannot be dismantled or definanced, since this endangers the lives of thousands and thousands of people and increases the spread of diseases. “
The host foundation criticized the Ministry of Health for HIV and Vaccines policies
The host foundation, an organism that is dedicated to the prevention and work against the Propagation of sexually transmitted diseasescriticized the Ministry of Health of the Nation for the termination of contracts in HIV addresses and vaccines.
The executive director of the Foundation, Leandro Cahn, advanced to the NA agency that they are “following the subject” and “will analyze the steps to follow, as the events happen.” “We learned that HIV and vaccines workers from the Ministry of Health of the Nation have a contract only until January 31. What will happen next? No one knows“, had raised from the foundation through a message posted in the last days prior to confirming the government measure.
In this scenario, from a guest they pointed out: “The direction of HIV Buy test, reagents and ARV for thousands of people with HIV and tuberculosis that are treated in the public system. He also attends if there are problems with social works or prepaid, perform campaigns and analyze data to determine policies. “
As for the Vaccine Department, from the Foundation they explained that it “It is responsible for buying, distributing, managing outbreaks and monitoring cases“; they also stressed that our country” has one of the most complete vaccination calendars in the region “and that, thanks to that work, the country achieved”eradicate several diseases“
In turn, they pointed out that eliminating both areas would be “Failure to comply with international law“, in addition to being an” unconstitutional and anti -conventional “action because it would go against article 12 of the International Pact of Social and Cultural Economic Rights.
Source: Ambito
