News of health

Maradona ‘sometimes resisted’ medical treatment, admits sister

03-04-2025 23:48 Diego Maradona "sometimes resisted" medical attention, admits one of his sisters at the trial into his 2020 death.

CATHOLIC CHURCH

Pope Francis returns home from hospital, thanks faithful

23-03-2025 10:41 Pope Francis returns to the Vatican after being discharged from the hospital where he spent more than five weeks receiving treatment.

death of diego maradona

No 'medical items' around Maradona deathbed, policeman tells court

18-03-2025 22:13 Lucas Farías, an officer in the Buenos Aires Province Police Force, says he saw no "medical items" in the room where Diego Maradona received post-operative care.

CATHOLIC CHURCH

Hospitalised Pope Francis says he is 'facing period of trial'

16-03-2025 09:26 Latest update from Vatican tampers speculation that the Pope's progress could signal an imminent release from hospital.

POPE FRANCIS

'Too soon' to discuss pope's return home

10-03-2025 14:20 The pontiff issued a written version of his weekly Sunday Angelus prayer after showing "slight improvements" in hospital.

HEALTH & ECONOMY

Milei government eliminates Argentina's national cancer institute

06-03-2025 21:15 In a statement, Argentina's Health Ministry announced the closure of the Instituto Nacional del Cáncer because of a "duplicity of tasks" and to have "greater control of actions."

POPE FRANCIS

Weak-sounding pope releases audio from hospital

06-03-2025 18:00 Pope Francis says heartfelt thanks to worldwide supporters for their prayers as he nears three weeks in hospital: "May God bless you and the Virgin protect you."

public health crisis

Doctors resign from Health Ministry scheme over ‘dismantling’ of programmes

05-03-2025 16:59 Healthcare professionals working on Health Ministry programmes to tackle HIV, leprosy and tuberculosis resign en masse, stating: "We will not be part of a Ministry where essential programmes are unable to meet the basic obligations set by law."

POPE FRANCIS

Pope not out of danger, doctors say

21-02-2025 18:01 Pope Francis passes another calm night in hospital, the Vatican said, as the 88-year-old spent his seventh day in hospital being treated for pneumonia.

Catholic Church

Fresh health fears as Pope Francis is hospitalised with bronchitis

14-02-2025 15:39 Pope Francis admitted to hospital in Rome for tests and treatment for ongoing bronchitis, the Vatican announces.

REACTION TO PULL-OUT

Experts voice criticism of Milei’s decision to quit WHO

07-02-2025 21:28 Opposition lawmakers, healthcare experts and analysts warn that President Javier Milei’s decision to withdraw Argentina from the World Health Organization will cut the country off from international health guidance, research and technology.

by Zella Milfred

CAPTURING HISTORY

Presidential photographer hangs up camera after 47 years

06-02-2025 23:55 Víctor Bugge, presidential photographer who captured Videla, Menem and the Rolling Stones, retires after 47 years.

MULTILATERALISM

Milei pulls Argentina out of World Health Organization

05-02-2025 12:01 Argentina will pull out of the World Health Organization, Presidential spokesperson Manuel Adorni confirms, following in the footsteps of the United States.

Multilateral Exodus

WHO, Paris climate accords, Mercosur – Milei mulls multilateral retreat

23-01-2025 19:05 Argentina is considering withdrawing from the World Health Organisation, Paris climate accords and Mercosur bloc, according to reports.

Endangered Livestock

Uruguay alert shows potentially toxic cyanobacteria

23-01-2025 11:37 A large algae bloom at the Río Negro Basin in Uruguay could impact the country's agricultural sector.

Global Health

WHO 'regrets' Trump decision to pull US from organisation

21-01-2025 11:08 Trump directs US withdrawal from the World Health Organization, triggering "significant restructuring" in the organisation's future.

HUMAN RIGHTS

IACHR condemns El Salvador for denying abortion to sick woman

23-12-2024 21:01 Amnesty International praised a ruling by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) condemning El Salvador for denying a woman a life-saving abortion in 2013.

BRAZILIAN POLITICS

Geraldo Alckmin, Lula’s rival-turned-vice-president, finds himself in unwanted limelight

19-12-2024 08:17 For decades, he was President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s political rival. Now his boss’s health issues have put Geraldo Alckmin at the centre of questions about Brazil’s future.

BRAZIL IN FOCUS

Lula’s age and health leave Brazil on edge about what comes next

14-12-2024 08:36 Brazil is pondering the future as Lula’s age and health become major parts of the political discussion and attention turns toward the next presidential election in 2026.

HEALTH & ECONOMY

Government: Prepaid health schemes face probe for alleged ‘cartel practices’

12-12-2024 18:48 Following investigation into co-ordinated fee increases between last December and last April, Presidential Spokesperson Manuel Adorni states CNDC anti-monopoly watchdog has initiated summary proceedings against several prepaid health schemes and former chamber president Claudio Belocopitt.

SOCIETY

Pensioners the biggest losers of Milei’s first year in office

09-12-2024 13:20 Some five million retirees in Argentina receive just a minimum pension and bonus payment amounting to some US$320, just a third of the estimated living cost for an older adult.

HEALTH & SOCIETY

‘Growing public health problem’ – Syphilis infections hit three-decade high

07-11-2024 16:11 Health Ministry data shows cases have risen from just over 12,000 in 2021 to more than 32,000 in 2023 – the highest recorded tally in three decades.

POLLS & SURVEYS

Chile overwhelmingly scorns immigration, poll shows

31-10-2024 10:43 Chileans are demanding stricter immigration controls much more than neighbours in other Latin American nations, according to a new poll, as an influx of newcomers upends politics in one of the region’s richest economies.

OBITUARY

Former Health minister Ginés González García dies aged 79

18-10-2024 14:41 Veteran politician and physician Ginés González García, whose lengthy career in public service ended in disgrace during the coronavirus pandemic, dies at the age of 79.

HEALTHCARE & ECONOMY

Workers launch vigil to save mental health hospital from cutbacks

08-10-2024 17:31 President Javier Milei’s chainsaw hits Bonaparte Hospital in Parque Patricios; Workers stage vigil against alleged “closure” of hospital as Health Ministry states “restructuring process” has begun.

HEALTH & ECONOMY

New health minister fires management of top children’s hospital

03-10-2024 16:27 Newly appointed Health Minister Mario Lugones fires board of Garrahan Children’s Hospital for awarding 500,000-peso bonus; Decision “does not match the national government’s wage guidelines.”

POLITICS

Lugones to head Health Ministry after Russo steps down

27-09-2024 13:40 After learning about the official’s exit, the government quickly appointed his successor.

MPOX VIRUS FEARS

Health authorities in Argentina order quarantine ship over mpox virus fears

21-08-2024 12:20 Crew-member of vessel flying Liberian flag reported to have symptoms compatible with the mpox disease; In accordance with protocol, ship has been quarantined at Santa Fe Province port of San Lorenzo.

World Organisation for Animal Health

Argentine veterinarian looks to conquer French multilateral bastion

18-04-2024 00:23 Luis Barcos, the Argentine candidate to be the next director-general of the World Organisation for Animal Health, is looking to become the first non-French person to lead the ex-Office International des Epizooties.

HEALTH & ECONOMY

Government intervenes to halt private health scheme price surge

17-04-2024 17:21 Free-market Milei administration uses state power to challenge firms and announces most prepaid health schemes are rolling back runaway price increases; "The Argentina of wise guys is over," declares presidential spokesman Manuel Adorni.

HEALTH & ECONOMY

Argentina is running out of bug spray amid record dengue surge

10-04-2024 10:08 Bug spray is out of stock as Argentina confronts its worst-ever outbreak of dengue, a mosquito-borne illness that’s surged across Latin America amid high heat and heavy rains.

HEALTHCARE & ECONOMY

Private health firms: Caputo complains of 'war on middle class'

09-04-2024 16:19 Economy Minister Luis Caputo accuses ‘pre-pagas’ of declaring war on customers as government sources say investigation into price-fixing claims is underway; Firms seek urgent meeting with officials.

HEALTH & SOCIETY

Desperate to dodge dengue, citizens struggle to find mosquito repellent

07-04-2024 09:34 Argentina is one of the worst hit by the outbreak of dengue sweeping the region – but those in and around Buenos Aires are struggling to find mosquito repellent.

HEALTH

Latin America, Caribbean set for record dengue season

29-03-2024 09:00 Across Latin America and the Caribbean, regional health authorities have already tallied more than 3.5 million cases and a thousand deaths due to the dengue virus.

HEALTH & SOCIETY

Government rules out free dengue vaccine despite record deaths

18-03-2024 16:56 Presidential Spokesperson Maneul Adorni says there is no plan to make Dengue vaccine free and compulsory to citizens despite a record number of deaths this year.

HEALTH & SOCIETY

Dengue fever cases in Argentina up 2,153% so far in 2024

07-03-2024 15:30 Data from Health Ministry shows worrying explosion of Denge fever cases, rising to more than 57,000 from 2,500 in the same period last year.

Abortion rights

Abortion protection in French Constitution is 'message of hope' for other nations

05-03-2024 12:41 France's new "guaranteed freedom" to have an abortion may transcend borders and "give a boost to the recognition of this fundamental right" in the world, experts and activists argue.

Abortion rights

France enshrines abortion as constitutional right in world first

04-03-2024 16:39 Lawmakers in Versailles vote to anchor the right to abortion in the constitution, making France the first country in the world to enshrine explicit protection for terminating a pregnancy in basic law.

COST OF CRISIS

Food or medicine? Stark choice for the sick

04-03-2024 07:04 At pharmacies across Argentina, people are checking the price of medicines and opting not to purchase – even when it comes to antibiotics. As the economic crisis bites, healthcare has become a luxury some can’t afford.

POLITICS

Milei U-turns on Health Ministry and names Florencia Mizrahi to head AFIP

09-12-2023 19:35 Mario Russo appointed Health minister, reversing previous declarations that portfolio would be downgraded; Florencia Mizrahi to lead AFIP tax agency in Javier Milei's new government.

Election 2023

Milei, telepathic conversations with dogs and mental health

02-09-2023 06:17 Beyond allegedly having telepathic conversation with living and dead animals, God and historical economists, Milei has an extremely short fuse, quickly escalating into a level of rage that is uncommon in someone expected to lead in times of crisis.

by Agustino Fontevecchia

HEALTHCARE & SOCIETY

Briana: six-year-old’s tragic death highlights inequality in Argentina

22-07-2023 06:59 Child mortality is an ongoing tragedy in Argentina’s indigenous communities. The recent death of six-year-old Briana, a member of Salta’s Wichi community, in a hospital waiting-room last March highlights the precarious conditions facing residents in the north of the country and the failure of successive governments to protect the rights of all citizens.

by Sabrina Chemen

HEALTHCARE

In vaccination champ Brazil, many have stopped getting shots

11-07-2023 15:25 Two years after Brazil began emerging from its pandemic horror show thanks to a massive immunisation campaign, officials face a paradoxical predicament: vaccination rates have plunged, and not just for Covid-19, leaving millions exposed to once-eradicated diseases.

CHILE HEALTH

Chile government says private health insurers owe US$1.4 billion in overcharges

11-05-2023 15:04 Chile’s government confirmed that private health insurance companies will have to pay about US$1.4 billion to abide by a 2022 Supreme Court ruling, confirming the worst-case scenario for an industry near collapse.

VENEZUELA HEALTH

Vaccine battle against HPV thwarted by cost, stigma in Venezuela

09-05-2023 16:25 Although their government promised years ago to include the HPV vaccine in its free inoculation schedule, Venezuela remains one of the few Latin American countries not to have done so.

Global pandemic

WHO: Covid-19 is no longer a global health emergency

05-05-2023 15:26 Covid-19 pandemic no longer constitutes a global health emergency, but the danger is not over, declares World Health Organization.

HEALTH

One suicide every three hours in Argentina, Health Ministry reveals

04-05-2023 13:57 Figure emerged from the portfolio’s latest epidemiological report, where it is given as "the fourth cause of death in the 15 to 29 age group.”

HEALTH & SOCIETY

Public v private: 1 in 4 solely use state healthcare in Argentina

26-04-2023 13:49 One out of every four solely uses the public healthcare system, though more use private schemes exclusively. The commercial system is more used by men and more women have had to adjust their choices due to inflation.

by Sabrina Chemen