For the last five months, workers at Argentina’s largest paediatric hospital have been battling relentless austerity measures imposed by the far-right government of Javier Milei. Buenos Aires’ Garrahan Hospital treats hundreds of thousands of patients from across the country each year, including those with rare and complex diseases.
With the hospital’s budget frozen since 2023, Milei’s cuts threaten the institution’s ability to function. In 2025 alone, more than 200 hospital staff resigned due to low wages. ‘Services are becoming depleted because there simply aren’t enough staff to meet the demand, and this is directly impacting children’s health,’ says Norma Lezana, general secretary of the Association of Hospital Professionals and Technicians.
Since May, the health workers have organized assemblies, strikes, and marches demanding salary increases and better working conditions. The government’s only response has been a campaign of fake news and threats of layoffs.
The hospital quickly became a rallying point in the opposition to the Milei government’s libertarian policies, which risk dismantling public education and healthcare systems. An August survey showed that the Garrahan Hospital has a 94 per cent positive image among Argentinians. Mobilizations and widespread public solidarity led to the approval of the Paediatric Health Emergency Law in Congress, which prioritizes the immediate allocation of budgetary resources for supplies, infrastructure and salaries in pediatric care units nationwide
However, despite losing a key legislative election amid corruption scandals and a deepening economic crisis, the government vetoed the law. Now, it is up to Congress to decide whether to uphold or reject this veto. But Lezana remains hopeful: ‘The Garrahan will triumph, thanks to the unwavering support of the people and the determination of its workers to ensure that the hospital does not close.’
