Argentina

Welcome to Worldwide Physical Therapy Practice: a focus on Primary Care Physical Therapy

This is a project created by and for the students in the School of Physical Therapy at the University of St. Augustine in St. Augustine Florida. Please do not edit unless you are involved in this project, but please come back in the near future to check out new information!!

Original Editor - Ana Boyland

Lead Editors - Your name will be added here if you are a lead editor on this page.  Read more.

Patient Access to Physiotherapy or Physical Therapy Services / Entry Point

• Patients are referred by orthopedic doctors, neurologists or by regular physician, but sometimes patients can have access to clinics and pay cash.Therapists do not have access at this time but they are enrolled to primary care team.
  
• In Argentina, access to Physical therapy services depends on an individual's income level. the public hospitalis the main source of health care for more than 45% of the population, the rich population receives physical therapy services from health social security or, more often, from private insurers.

Therapist Preparation

      Degree/Credentialing

• Applicants  go to school for 6 years for a licensure in Physical Therapy.

      Specialization

• Do clinicians specialise in certain areas of care and if so how?

Professional Associations

• What are the professional associations associated with Physiotherapy or Physial Therapy in this country?

Information about the Patient Community

• Physical Therapist serve a wide population from children to elderly patients.
• The analysis of mortality by main causes and sex showed that the national mortality rate from heart disease fell from 10.9% between 1990 and 199.In the same period, the mortality rate from cerebrovascular diseases and accidents also showed significant decline with falls of 16.7% (80.8 vs 69.2 per 100,000 population) and 16.4% (32.6 vs 28,0 per 100,000) respectively. Malignant tumors showed a decrease of lesser magnitute, going from 143.7 per 100,000 population in 1990 to 141.6 per 100,000 in 1996. Heart diseases, malignant tumors and cerebrovascular diseases are the most frequent causes of death for both sexes.In population 65 and older, heart disease remained the leading cause of death in 1990-1995. Tumors and cerebrovascular diseases were the second and third causes of death, and pneumonia and influenza mortality increased 21.0%.

Chronic and degenerative diseases together with trauma account for the majority of argentina's burden of disease, especially in large urban centers. Among these, cardiovascular disease, motor vehicle accidents and tobacco use ( Argentina has the highest prevalence of smokers in the region) stand out. Maternal and child health are of concerns not only because of the high mortality rates and significant inequities, but also because of the potential impact the sector can have in this area. the majority of infant and maternal death in argentina are avoidable through timely prevention interventions, diagnosis and treatment.

Social/Cultural Influences

• What is the influence of the family on a patient's health status?
• What are the typical patient's living conditions, family dynamics, and cultural back ground?

Delivery of Care

• Is delivery of care provided in a timely manner?
• Special methods? Home health etc
  

Type of Health System

• Health care in Argentina is overseen by the Ministry of Health. Medical care in large cities is generally good, but in smaller towns and rural areas, hospitals and other facilities may be lacking in modern equipment. Argentina's health service is divided into three sections:

1. Goverment-funded health services.
2. Social security financed through trade unions
3. Private medical sector

The recent economic, political and social crisis affects health sector access.

Goverment funded Health Services

Public health care, which covers approximately 50% of the population, is funded by the Argentinian goverment.The Ministry of Health is responsible for public health services, government hospitals and medical services.Public medical institutions are free of charge for both nationals and foreigners. A patient's identification documents are required.

Social Security

In formal employement, both employers and employees are obliged to pay into a health insurance scheme organised by a trade union. This is the most common form of health insurance in the country. There are numerous schemes run by different unions, all overseen by the National Health Insurance Administration.The unions often do not provide services, but rather outsource to the private sector.This category includes" pre-paid insurance (" pre-pagas")

Private Medical Sector

In Argentina the private sector is thriving but fragmentary, with many establishments and individuals not affiliated with any organization. They provide care mainly to those with private insurance, or those who are part of a national health insurance scheme.

There are wide of private insurers to choose from, both national and international. Some private hospitals inlarge cities provide health plans which expratriates and residents can enroll in.Private health insurance premiums vary depending on age and family needs, as well as the risk that the insured person may represent. in general these companies do not cover pre-existing conditions.

                                                                               

Payment System

Public hospitals vary in quality and efficiency, often making them an inferior option to private institutions. Services and treatment are free, though certain prescriptions need to be paid by the patient.There are many privates clinics in Argentina, mostly of a very high standard. Each insurance company provides a list of the hospitals and clinics covered by its scheme and usually indicates those where English-speaking doctors are available.Patients can make payments through out-of-pocket to private providers.