Economy Minister Luis Caputo’s reference to the way private pharmaceutical companies have increased the price of their membership fees since December has brought to the fore a sensitive issue for the middle class population, where price increases have the greatest impact . service. There are approximately 6 million beneficiaries who use the prepaid medicine system.
Analyzed a report from the Argentine Institute of Fiscal Analysis (IARAF). the percentage of expenditure on prepaid medicines within an average formal salary. And he calculated that the amount of an average private medical plan It consumes 30% of a formal salary (even an average one). To carry out this calculation, a specific pharmaceutical plan from the OMINT company from 2013 to today was used.
According to this survey, in 2013 the expenses of this plan consumed 11% of the salary. In the period between then and 2019, the incidence increased by an average of 19%. But from April 2024, after the liberalization of prices and the deregulation of the market, Spending on prepaid medicines within the salary would, in the best case scenario, have an impact of 30%.
“Of the three variables studied, compared to January 2013, the one that had the greatest increase was the prepaid health plan, with an increase of 28.105%, followed by the CPI with an increase of 17.866% and the average salary with an increase of 10.523%”, the report highlighted.
This means that the relative value of the healthcare provision has increased compared to the general price index, and that it has also increased, but to a greater extent, compared to the value of the average formal salary of the worker in an employment relationship.
In March 2016, the value of the prepaid plan valued in constant currency (excluding the impact of inflation) was $139,600 and has seen a sustained increase over 19 months to reach $224,800 (61%). Then it dropped to $143,000 last December and is up 59%. $227,000 in April. That is to say that in four months it has increased by approximately 59%. Comparing the long term, it is concluded that the current relative recomposition is taking place in a fifth of the time achieved in the 2016-2018 period.
The average wage earner has lost 62% of its ability to purchase prepaid health coverage throughout the period under analysis. The rapid decline recorded between October 2023 and April 2024 stands out, amounting to approximately 32%. This is to say it practically Half of the loss in purchasing power would occur in just six months, over a 12-year period.
Source: Clarin
