The private health system He is going through the worst moment. Companies that finance the activity assert that the income cannot cover the costs. The same thing happens with service providers who complain that they are not charging fees according to the services they provide.
The inflation, The exchange rate gap and problems importing inputs or equipment are causing a situation that takes this sector to a critical level. The consequences are manifested in the financial situation of clinics or sanatoriums that, in many cases, led to their closure.
While the claims of this party are true, the other side of the coin is what happens to its affiliates the system. Complaints are multiplied and centered on a series of factors such as Quota levels that cannot afford low wages Recently, lower benefits And the long wait to serve her shift delay.
In the first point, stakes prepaid In recent months, it has undergone a greater adjustment than in previous years This is felt in the pockets. This is because they are only now updating the values, after a period when the national government did not authorize Increases in the wake of the epidemic.
For example, fees increased in 2020 by 10%. In 2021 they have formal approval for a 47% increase, while in 2022 they will collect a 51.3% increase by December.
Most Salary adjustments were not always accompanied by these increases. Only workers under agreement received adjustment close to these levels, but this part represents about 30% of the workforce. Those who do not jointly discuss their income lag behind.
Added to this is the fact that despite the high cost it bears SubsidiariesCompanies must do interest cuts. In some cases, their own decision to survive financially, but in others forced them to lose skilled labor.
In the Argentina A phenomenon that is deepening is not new, but it is growing: a phenomenon blue medicine. Due to the lower income that they can pay in private clinics and sanatoriums, doctors charge a fee from outside the system. It is more and more frequent that a member prepaidIn addition to the fees you pay each month, you must agree to an additional payment if you want a specific professional to attend.
The tariffs they pay in the system are very low and Doctors compensate for this situation with an additional fee. Obviously, this has not been adopted by private institutions. This is an agreement between the patient and his or her chosen doctor. It is a practice that occurs from clinical advice, but especially in interventions of particular complexity.
According to data collected by MDZ, For example, there are cases when it was necessary to pay “outside” for treatment by the chosen doctor. For delivery, fees can be around $30,000 and up to $4,000 for heart surgery.
The problem is that the fees paid to professionals are too low and it also causes doctors to give up the system. The lack of doctors registered with this system shows that many are leaving due to low wages.
There is a shortage of professionals for janitorial or office care. Many of these jobs were covered by foreigners who came to study and stayed in the country. Now they are leaving. A clear example is the case of Venezuelan doctors. but also professionals Argentinians They leave because they are not oblivious to The phenomenon of migration Country live.
Salaries abroad, as in the United States or Europe, are a temptation for health workers, from nurses to doctors.
A doctor who specializes in heart surgery, in a dependency relationship, earns about $600,000 a month in Argentina. On the “blue” exchange, it is equivalent to $3,000 per month or $36,000 per year.
In the United States, the annual income for the same major is more than $400,000. The same relationship occurs in all disciplines.
In Canada, where the health system is public, the income of a specialist doctor also starts at $300,000 per year. The tax burden is 50%, but the taxes paid are received through health education and free high-level education.
In both cases, the income can reach one million US dollars.
The departure of professionals, either because they have left the private medical system due to lower wages and continue to work independently, or because they migrate, causes existing employees to be unable to meet demand and the consequences for affiliates.
It is normal to cut out the benefits. Studies that cannot be performed or analyzes that must be paid on top of the fee. Doctors and specialties cards are being reduced in many governorates.
Another problem is the ordeal of getting roles. In some cases, there may be a wait of longer than 30 days up to four months to attend. Emergencies are only dealt with in a reasonable time.
The outlook is troubling because companies assert that the system cannot continue to operate if revenue is not adjusted for costs.
According to the data treated by the Chambers of the Sector, the share of prepayment should increase by 66% from the increases already expected to reach the cost of living on the assumption that the cost of living will reach 67% by 2022, while this should increase the value of the assistance subsidy by 60% % more than expected increases already to keep pace with inflation.
in this context, Subsidiaries They are not in a position to cope with these increases, which means that there does not appear to be a solution to the problem, deepening the deterioration.
