The video of the Argerich doctor - which went viral on the networks - overwhelmed and asking patients where they came from revealed the reality that exists in many public hospitals in the City.
The flood of people from the province receiving care in the Capital that was captured in the viral video made the Government begin to consider the need to install a system that gives priority of care to the residents of the City.
This demand is not new.
It is estimated that 40% of the people treated in Buenos Aires hospitals come from the province of Buenos Aires.
In addition, the city's public health system could become even more in demand when many Buenos Aires residents
leave prepaid
- due to the increase in fees - and begin to receive care in public hospitals.
Argerich was the setting for the viral video, and it is one of these hospitals.
Being close to the border with the Province, it receives many patients who come especially from the southern area of Buenos Aires.
"The hospital has been collapsed for years," said a doctor who asked to remain anonymous.
"What we see is that the system is totally
overwhelmed,"
added a medical student who is a resident in surgery.
However, neither of them could say how many patients come from the province.
"I know there are many. But I don't know the exact number," added the student.
While the doctor added that, for him, "they are all patients, we do not take into account their origin."
The two agreed on something: installing a shift system with priorities for the people of Buenos Aires is wrong.
In reality, what the Head of Government, Jorge Macri, proposed is a care system with priority for residents.
Since it cannot be implemented in acute hospitals, a project is being considered to
create centers of medium complexity and diagnosis that do meet that priority.
The patients also had their say.
Mariana has an appointment to have an ultrasound.
She took it out in early January.
She is
six months pregnant.
She lives in Barracas and went to the hospital with her daughter.
She understands that it is important for a public hospital to serve everyone but at the same time she says she agrees with the
priority system.
"It is logical that we neighbors have priority. I understand those poor people who come from the province to receive care in the Capital. But the reality is
we are the ones who support the hospital with our taxes."
Opinions divided in the Argerich hospital guard regarding the initiative to prioritize Proteños in health care.
Photo: Maxi Failla
Sergia, a resident of La Boca, is waiting her turn to have a blood test.
She is more confused with the measure that the Buenos Aires government wants to initiate.
She found out about it when she asked this chronicler.
She says health should be for everyone.
That she makes noise that there is a system of priorities.
She has relatives on the other side of the Riachuelo.
"There the hospitals are also collapsed. More so than here
. In addition, there is a lack of supplies and in some hospitals there is no shortage of doctors. That's why people come to Argerich to get treatment, they can't there. Leaving them like this, without attention, seems to me to be wrong. ".
Quique is from the southern part of the province.
Walk with crutches.
Several months ago he suffered an accident and had surgery on his left foot.
Since the hospital he was receiving
did not have the resources to provide the treatment he needs, he went to Argerich
.
"I have no choice. I can't have this problem for life. I've been like this for three months. I made an appointment here to be seen because the hospital closest to my house
is a disaster.
It's completely collapsed and there's a lack of specialties." .
Regarding the measure that he wants to promote by the Buenos Aires Government, he believed that it would be a disaster.
"For many people who live in the province it would be like leaving us helpless.
Where are we going to go if they don't want to serve us here anymore?
Something to highlight.
None of those consulted by this newspaper knew of the City Government's measure.
They didn't understand it well either.
The majority believed that Jorge Macri wants to stop serving the people of Buenos Aires.
Some, when he explained to them that he would only be in the shift system, thought twice about his answers.
However, the majority continued to have the same opinion.
S.C.