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Garrahan Hospital Accuses Governor Kicillof of Lying About $8.2 Billion Debt
🇦🇷 Argentina /Health & Science

Garrahan Hospital Accuses Governor Kicillof of Lying About $8.2 Billion Debt

From La Nación · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • The Garrahan Pediatric Hospital claims Buenos Aires province owes it over $8.2 billion for treating patients covered by the provincial health insurance, IOMA.
  • Governor Axel Kicillof announced a payment of $1.23 billion, which the hospital calls a partial payment against a much larger debt.
  • The hospital accuses the provincial government of lying about the debt, refusing to cover complex services, and jeopardizing patient care.

Buenos Aires province owes the Garrahan Pediatric Hospital more than $8.2 billion for treating patients covered by the provincial health insurance, IOMA, the hospital's administration stated. This claim directly contradicts Governor Axel Kicillof's recent announcement that the province had settled its debt.

Miente

— Garrahan HospitalThe Garrahan Hospital's Council of Administration titled its letter to IOMA 'Governor Axel Kicillof lies: the debt with the Garrahan Hospital is more than $8.2 billion.'

The Garrahan's Council of Administration sent a letter to IOMA, calling Kicillof's claim of settling the debt "false." The hospital asserts the actual debt stands at $8,278,254,990.97 and grows with each patient treated. It also stated that Kicillof's reported payment of approximately $1.23 billion represents only a partial payment against overdue debt, which will first be applied to accrued interest.

Hospital authorities further allege that the provincial government denies the debt, seeks to pay less for high-complexity services, and demands economic privileges that threaten the hospital's sustainability. Since 2017, 44,447 children affiliated with IOMA have been treated at Garrahan because the province lacks the capacity to provide the necessary care.

La deuda real de la obra social provincial asciende a $8.278.254.990,97 y crece día a día con cada paciente que atendemos en el hospital.

— Garrahan HospitalThe hospital detailed the real debt owed by the provincial health insurance.

The hospital also criticizes the provincial government for refusing to cover the costs of parents accompanying hospitalized children and for delaying payments for medications and prosthetics. The Garrahan warns that the province's non-compliance jeopardizes the institution's operations and the health of children, particularly those without other coverage. They urge Governor Kicillof to address the real debt urgently.

niega

— Garrahan HospitalThe hospital accused the provincial government of denying the debt.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by La Nación in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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