VZCZCXYZ0000
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHBU #0096/01 0291900
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 291900Z JAN 09
FM AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 2943
INFO RUCNMER/MERCOSUR COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS BUENOS AIRES 000096 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PREL SOCI TBIO ECON AR
SUBJECT: Argentina's Minister of Health - Crusader against 
Corruption 
 
¶1.  (U) Summary:  Ambassador Wayne and Health Minister Maria 
Graciela Ocana discussed her Ministry's efforts to fight corruption 
within Argentina's public health system, the importance of drug 
rehabilitation programs, and prospects for future collaboration on 
health issues during a meeting on January 16.  Ocana expressed 
interest in the changes that President Obama would make to the U.S. 
healthcare system.  She acknowledged that Argentina's 2001 economic 
crisis had hurt its healthcare system, which is also challenged by 
financial malfeasance, increased demand, and heavy costs associated 
with long-term care.  They also discussed Argentina's growing drug 
consumption problem.  The Ambassador suggested that many of these 
issues could be discussed with U.S. experts via digital video 
conferences, an idea Ocana readily supported.  The meeting 
demonstrated new opportunities to engage the GOA on healthcare 
issues where real needs exist. 
End Summary. 
 
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Financial Malfeasance Prevents Healthcare Access 
--------------------------------------------- --- 
 
¶2.  (U) The Ambassador commended Ocana on her efforts to fight 
corruption within Argentina's public health system.  (Ocana has 
consistently called for greater transparency in the procurement of 
pharmaceuticals by the Argentine agency responsible for providing 
medicines to senior citizens following allegations of price fixing 
and overcharging by suppliers, many of whom were also reportedly 
prominent campaign contributors in 2007. In November, the head of 
the agency resigned at the request of the government.)  She confided 
that it is challenging to run an efficient Ministry when the money 
designated for healthcare goes "elsewhere."  She added that several 
sectors are not big fans of her Ministry and confided that she was 
facing a difficult battle with Argentine pharmaceutical companies. 
 
 
¶3.  (U) Ocana also told the Ambassador she has uncovered corruption, 
particularly in procurement of services and medications.  In 
addition, there have been recent incidents of pharmaceutical 
laboratories manufacturing medicines that were either fraudulent or 
of inadequate dosages.  Centralizing the verification system is 
essential to avoiding fraud, she said.  The Ambassador noted that in 
the United States, there exist strong procurement procedures and 
systems which could be shared with Argentina.  He noted that the 
U.S. private sector could be very helpful partners in this area. 
Ocana said she had had a very good meeting with Merck which touched 
on this, and expressed her interest in collaborating with U.S. 
experts to improve the Ministry's oversight capabilities. 
 
----------------------------- 
Opportunities for Cooperation 
----------------------------- 
 
¶4.  (U) Ocana said she is interested in seeing what changes 
President Obama will make to the U.S. healthcare system.  She added 
that she would find it useful for both countries to share their 
experiences in healthcare reform.  She cited the unions' "Obras 
Sociales" ("Social Works") system as an example, noting that it does 
not have an analogue in the United States.  She explained that the 
Social Works system is run by workers' unions that provide health 
coverage to their affiliates.  The Ministry of Health publishes 
basic standards and conditions about the provision of health 
services and the Social Works system is in charge of putting this 
into practice.  (Comment:  This system does not guarantee good 
healthcare and provides opportunities for corruption.)  The 
Ambassador underscored that our healthcare system is based on a 
large private role. 
 
¶5.  (U) The Minister also relayed her interest in promoting a 
Federal Health Law to guarantee universal access to Argentina's 
healthcare system.  (Comment: While the current system guarantees 
universal healthcare, access to medical care for lower 
socio-economic populations remains inadequate.  The law would focus 
on programs for the reduction of mother and infant mortality, and 
the reduction of deaths caused by both communicable diseases such as 
tuberculosis, Chagas, HIV-AIDS, dengue, yellow fever, as well as 
non-communicable diseases caused by high blood pressure, diabetes, 
mental health problems, drugs and tobacco.) 
 
¶6.  (U) Ocana acknowledged that Argentina's 2001 economic crisis 
hurt Argentina's healthcare system.  She remarked that the only good 
result to come out of Argentina's economic crisis was that 
Argentines learned they can work together to face their problems. 
She added that there is a growing healthcare crisis in Argentina due 
to increasing demand.  To address this, she said the Ministry is 
focused on improving primary care in Buenos Aires City, and they 
hope to build ten new hospitals in critical zones by 2011, five with 
Argentine financing, two with Spanish, and three with European Union 
financing. 
 
----------------------- 
Increased Drug Problems 
----------------------- 
 
 
¶7.  (U) The Ambassador mentioned his personal experience of having 
observed children addicted to paco, the local version of crack, in a 
previous visit to villas, or slums, in Ciudad Oculta and along the 
Riachuelo.  Ocana agreed that this was a serious problem, describing 
it as a sickness which requires medical attention.  She said her 
Ministry is hoping to work with the provinces to expand treatment 
for drug addiction, but noted that the National Center for Drug 
Addiction has only 100 in-patient beds and limited facilities for 
walk-ins.  She is working with the Ministries of Social Development 
and of Justice, Security, and Human Rights to develop better 
treatment programs. 
 
¶8.  (U) Ocana commented that even when children enter the few 
available treatment programs, they often do not remain and leave 
uncured.  Hospitals that provide emergency treatment either do not, 
or are unable to, provide care for youth in need of additional 
treatment.  The Ambassador mentioned the positive work of the 
Argentine NGO, Mothers Against Paco, in addressing drug addiction, 
and cited their struggles to get more local, long-term treatment 
centers.   He noted that the United States has significant 
experience in drug treatment programs, and offered to see if the 
Embassy could bring together Argentine and U.S. healthcare experts 
for digital video conferences to share experiences and ideas, an 
idea that Ocana enthusiastically supported. 
 
--- 
BIO 
--- 
 
¶9.  (U) Ocana was appointed head of the Ministry of Health by 
President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner in December 2007.  In CFK's 
2008 State of the Union address, Ocana was the only Minister to be 
singled out for praise for her work.  According to local press 
reports, Ocana has gained substantial autonomy because of her strong 
relationship with the President, but her relationship with Nestor 
Kirchner is not as solid.  Still, she argued that the current 
government, flaws and all, is overall the best Argentines have had 
since the return of democracy.  Prior to assuming her current post, 
she was head of PAMI, the National Institute for Social Services for 
Retired Workers.  From 1999-2003, Ocana served as a member of the 
Lower House (1999 to 2003) as part of the Frepaso.  In this 
capacity, she was active in investigating corruption in former 
President Menem's administration.  She worked with Civic Coalition 
leader Elisa Carrio in the Money Laundering Preliminary Report, and 
in 2001 she joined Carrio's party, ARI.  Ocana was subsequently 
evicted from ARI after joining the Kirchner administration.  Ocana 
(nicknamed "la hormiguita", or "the little ant") is well-known for 
her hard work and commitment to the causes she undertakes.  Ocana 
was born in 1960 in San Justo, Argentina. 
 
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Comment 
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¶10.  (U) Ocana is tackling a difficult situation, worsened by 
entrenched corruption, a dramatic increase in drug use, and a 
Byzantine political situation that complicates public health 
management issues.  U.S. public and private experience with 
procurement procedures, drug treatment programs and attempts to 
provide affordable health care, combined with the availability of 
Spanish-speaking U.S. experts, provides an opportunity to assist the 
Health Ministry and engage the GOA where real needs exist. 
 
WAYNE