Argentina: Whether diabetics are mistreated or discriminated against in Argentina (1998 to May 2001)

Two Buenos Aires-based news dailies reported that 2.5 million Argentineans were afflicted with the diabetes medical condition (La Nación 27 Sept. 2000; Página/12 10 Aug. 1998).

In August 1998, Página/12 reported that nowhere in the world was insulin more costly than in Argentina (ibid.). The Federation of Diabetics (Federación de Diabéticos) attributed the high costs to the oligopolistic (oligopolio) nature of the manufacturing of the medication in Argentina, as well as to [translation] "the ill-advised and authoritarian directives imposed by the World Health Organization" (ibid.). The provision of insulin was not compulsory for social security programs (obras sociales) nor was it covered under the government health insurance program (prepagos) (ibid.). However, the situation changed when medication for diabetics was incorporated into the Compulsory Medical Program (Programa Médico Obligatorio, PMO) as proclaimed in the Regulations of the Law on Diabetes, published in Argentina's official bulletin (Boletín Oficial de la Nación) on 3 May 1999 (La Nación 27 Sept. 2000).

Several sources report that persons suffering from diabetes are discriminated against in Argentina (CIMAC 12 Jan. 2001; Diabetes On Line 2000; La Nación 27 Sept. 2000; La Razón 20 Mar. 2001; Página/12 10 Aug. 1998). According to some sources, diabetics face discrimination while looking for work or educational opportunities (ibid.; Diabetes On Line 2000). Página/12 added that often a diabetic must conceal his/her medical condition while seeking employment, otherwise he/she would not be successful (10 Aug. 1998). According to Diabetes On Line, other persons facing discrimination because of diabetes were adolescents who practised high performance sports and employees who occupied positions that were [translation] "competitive, demanding and perfectionist" (2000).

In a letter to La Nación on 27 September 2000, the president of the Diabetes Association of Buenos Aires (Asociación de Diabéticos de Buenos Aires), Néstor Daniel Loreto, stated that despite the new Law on Diabetes, his social security program, Solidaridad, had suspended his supply of blood glucose meters (tiras reactivas) and insulin-injecting devices (infusor de insulina) (ibid.). Loreto blamed the suspension of his health care requirements on a discrepancy in the application of the Law on Diabetes; while the Law stipulated what it considered minimum health care provision, Solidaridad interpreted it as a maximum (ibid.). Loreto lodged a complaint against Solidaridad and the Superintendant of Health Services (Superintendencia de Servicios de Salud) with the Ombudsman's Office (Defensoría del Pueblo de la Nación) based on the claim that the Superintendant was violating the Law on Diabetes by not regulating and punishing those institutions, such as Solidaridad, for not fulfilling its responsibilities under the Law (idid.). Loreto stated that he was aware of many situations in which persons suffering from diabetes were not obtaining adequate health care from the various social security programs (Obras Sociales), Pharmacare (Medicinas Prepagas) and public hospitals (ibid.).

According to the Buenos Aires-based Forum of Non-Governmental Organizations Against Discrimination (Foro de Organizaciones no Gubernamentales que Luchan Contra la Discriminación), persons suffering from diabetes, as well as from HIV/AIDS, epilepsy, obesity and disabilities are isolated and mistreated (apartadas y maltratadas) in Argentina (CIMAC 12 Jan. 2001). In 2000, there were 490 complaints of discrimination related to health ailments (ibid.). The Argentinean government has attempted to remedy this discrimination by establishing programs such as those offered by the National Institute Against Discrimination, Racism and Xenophobia (Instituto Nacional Contra la Discriminación, el Racismo y la Xenofobia (INADI) (ibid.). According to a report by INADI, discrimination of persons with special needs, such as those with HIV/AIDS and diabetes is the second-leading type of discrimination, after discrimination based on ethnicity, nationality and religion (La Razón 20 Mar. 2001) (ibid.).

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

References

Comunicación e Información de la Mujer (CIMAC). 12 January 2001. "Aumentan denuncias por discriminación en Argentina." [Accessed 23 May 2001]

Diabetes On Line. 2000. "La discriminacin por la diabetes." [Accessed 23 May 2001]

La Nación [Buenos Aires]. 27 September 2000. Néstor Daniel Loreto. " Discriminacián y extorsión a paciente con diabetes." [Accessed 23 May 2001]

Página/12 [Buenos Aires]. 10 August 1998. Pedro Lypcovich. "Cómo hacer negocio con la diabetes." [Accessed 23 May 2001]

La Razón. 20 March 2001. "Informe del INADI: La gente discrimina más por el origen y la religión." [Accessed 23 May 2001]

Additional Sources Consulted

IRB Databases

LEXIS/NEXIS

World News Connection (WNC)

Internet sites including:

Asociación de Diabéticos de Buenos Aires

La Capital [Rosario, Argentina]. Search Engine

Clarín [Buenos Aires]. Search Engine

Diabetes Online

Latin Salud.com

La Nación [Buenos Aires]. Search Engine

Panamerican Health Organization (PAHO)

Sociedad Argentina de Diabetes

World Health Organization

Search Engine:

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