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Uruguay's Executive Branch to Cancel Stamp Fee for Health Professionals
🇺🇾 Uruguay /Health & Science

Uruguay's Executive Branch to Cancel Stamp Fee for Health Professionals

From El País · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Official statement New plan
  • Uruguay's Executive Branch will cancel a $170 stamp fee imposed by the Caja de Profesionales (CJPPU) on health reports.
  • The decision follows a meeting between the Health Federation (FUS) and the Deputy Minister of Economy, who found no financial justification for the fee.
  • The CJPPU had intended to implement the fee starting August 1 to address its decade-long financial deficit.

Uruguay's Executive Branch has decided to revoke a controversial $170 stamp fee that the Caja de Jubilaciones y Pensiones de Profesionales Universitarios (CJPPU) planned to levy on reports issued by health professionals. The decision came after a meeting between the Uruguayan Health Federation (FUS) and the Deputy Minister of Economy and Finance, Martín Vallcorba.

From that state secretariat, no financial difficulties are identified in the CJPPU that justify a measure of this nature or put its institutional continuity at risk.

— Martín VallcorbaExplaining the rationale behind canceling the stamp fee, citing a lack of financial justification.

Vallcorba informed the FUS that a decree would be signed to nullify the fee, stating that the Ministry of Economy and Finance does not identify any financial difficulties within the CJPPU that would justify such a measure or put its institutional continuity at risk. The FUS had vehemently opposed the fee, arguing it would disproportionately affect vulnerable socioeconomic sectors and potentially limit access to healthcare.

categorical rejection

— FUSThe Health Federation expressing its strong opposition to the proposed stamp fee.

The CJPPU's board had approved the stamp fee on May 28, intending to implement it from August 1. The measure aimed to generate additional revenue to address a deficit that has plagued the institution for at least a decade, even requiring a state bailout less than a year ago. The fee would have been applied to reports generated during medical consultations and other healthcare services.

the economic impact would be directly suffered especially by users from the most vulnerable socioeconomic sectors.

— FUSArguing that the fee would disproportionately harm low-income individuals and limit their access to healthcare.

Union representatives viewed the suspension of the fee as a significant political signal and emphasized the need for the Executive Branch to convene a national dialogue on health. The CJPPU's decision to impose the stamp was ratified by a 5-2 vote among its board members, who had assumed their positions in February.

This scenario highlights the need for the Executive Branch to convene a national dialogue on health.

— FUSCalling for broader discussions on healthcare policy following the stamp fee controversy.
DistantNews Editorial

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

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