Third Conference on “Current Challenges in the Field of Health”

On Thursday, 3 October, we held the Third Conference on “Current Challenges in the Field of Health” at the headquarters of the Argentine Confederation of Medium-sized Enterprises (CAME).

The event began with the official opening, featuring welcome remarks from Horacio Alonso, President of OSDEPYM, and Daniel Ferrant, Deputy Minister of Health. Dr Franco Caviglia, President of IIDOS, introduced the themes of the day and highlighted the main objectives to be addressed throughout the conference.

The first panel, titled “Current Situation of the Health System and Its Macroeconomic Framework”, was moderated by Dr Gerardo García González, Administrative Secretary of IIDOS. Speakers included Dr Agustín Etchebarne, General Director of the Fundación Libertad y Progreso; Lic. Mariano De Miguel (CAME); Ricardo Diab, Secretary General of CAME; and Dr Hugo Magonza from the Argentine Health Union (UAS). They discussed the current state of the healthcare system within the country’s broader macroeconomic context.

The second panel, “The Need for a New Mandatory Medical Programme (PMO)”, was moderated by Dr Facundo Rodríguez, Vice President of IIDOS. It featured a video contribution from National Deputy Pablo Yedlin, Chair of the Health Committee, and presentations by Dr Carlos Javier Regazzoni (MD), Dr Oscar Cochlar (Advisor to Social Security Schemes), and Federal Judge Gonzalo Auguste, who holds jurisdiction over health-related matters. The panel explored the pressing need to update and enhance Argentina’s Mandatory Medical Programme (PMO).

The third panel, “High-Cost Prescriptions and the Creation of the Health Technology Assessment Agency”, was chaired by Lic. Yanina Zanarini, Academic Secretary of IIDOS. Speakers included Dr Agustín Bengolea (IMSSET), Dr Carlos Vassallo Sella, an expert in pharmaceuticals, Dr Natalia Messina, a specialist in high-cost treatments, and Dr Manuel Donato, a member of the National Commission for the Evaluation of Health Technologies (CONETEC).

A moving moment in the event was the tribute to Dr Alberto José Mazza for his distinguished career. The tribute was presented by Dr Franco Caviglia and the award was handed over by Alfredo Gamietea, General Manager of OSDEPYM. 

The conference concluded with a summary of the main takeaways and the official closing of the Postgraduate Diploma in Decision Systems and Strategic Management in Health. Dr Facundo Rodríguez reviewed the discussions and outlined future steps. Dr Franco Caviglia, representing IIDOS, offered closing remarks. The event concluded with the awarding of diplomas, presented by Lic. Yanina Zanarini and Dr Jerónimo Biderman, Vice-Rector of the University of San Isidro.