Although the period of ordinary sessions ended, the activity of commissions continues in the Chamber of Deputies. It is in this framework, and considering the new regulations that limit the access to free medicines for retireeswhich officials were summoned for next Tuesday at 12:30 p.m. Mario LugonesMinister of Health, and Esteban Leguizamohead of PAMI, to detail the scope of the decision.
The call had already been made for Tuesday, December 10, but both leaders were absent. “We regret the absence of the minister, which is not optional“said last Tuesday the deputy Pablo Yedlin (Union for the Homeland)holder of the Social Action and Public Health Commission“there is a republican obligation; we have the obligation to control the Executive, it is not a decision.” “There wasn’t even a letter, they just decided to be absent from what is Republican control of the Government,” he added.
Medications for retirees: opinion of specialists
In return, they attended last week’s summons Juan José Böckel, Undersecretary General of the National Ombudsman’s Officewho assured that the measure to cut the PAMI “they induced us to take ex officio action.” “This change in the supply of medicines does not depart from the fundamental structure but directly affects the pockets of retirees and pensioners“he noted.
To the Social Action and Public Health Commission also attended Eugenio Semino, Advocate for the Elderlywho summarized: “The issue of medications seems to have no remedy in Argentina.” “44 molecules have disappeared from the PAMI vademecum since last August, and thus medications that had 100% coverage began to disappear,” he lamented and added: “There are five million retirees who earn $320,000, which makes everything worse“.
Finally, the pension lawyer Christian D’Alessandro noted that “We cannot naturalize that by income someone determines whether or not our retirees have coverage without charge, when they have contributed all their lives to the system.” In addition, he considered that “all the cuts that the Milei government made It helps them to maintain that PAMI is in a critical situation when in reality they were the ones who caused the crisis.”
Medications for retirees: how was the cut
At the beginning of the month, the PAMI announced the restriction on access to free medications per month. It is estimated that the decision may affect 3 million retirees. The conditions were established to have income less than 1.5 pension benefits, equivalent to $388,500or up to 3 assets in the event that the member lives with a person who has a Single Certificate of Disability (CUD).
In addition, it was established that those retirees affiliated with a health insurance company will not be able to receive free medicines. prepaid; not have more than one property, a vehicle less than 10 years old, or be the owner of luxury goods; and not be the owner of corporate assets that indicate full economic capacity.
The Medications accumulated an increase this year well above inflation. They rose on average 240%, while the cost of living increased 193%, according to the consumer defense entity DEUCO.
According to the Argentine Pharmaceutical Confederation (COFA) in the first four months of this year, Approximately 221 million units were sold, about 22.8 million units less than in the same period of 2023. “The total market decline in the first quarter of 2024 reaches 9.36%.”
Source: Ambito
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