Thousands of doctors, health workers, and supporters marched through Buenos Aires on Thursday (July 17) to protest against government cutbacks to Argentina’s public health sector.

Demonstrators carried signs demanding better funding and salaries, as well as criticising the policies of President Javier Milei.

Protesters warned that budget freezes and layoffs were causing a severe crisis in major national hospitals, including Garrahan, El Cruce, and Posadas, which serve patients from across the country.

Organisers said the protest was supported by dozens of unions and social organisations, coinciding with a 24-hour strike by Garrahan Hospital staff demanding higher pay and improved conditions. According to health workers, more than 220 professionals have resigned in recent months due to worsening conditions, as inflation erodes stagnant health budgets and public hospitals face increasing demand.

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BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA (JULY 17, 2025) (REUTERS - Access all)

1. VARIOUS OF PEOPLE MARCHING WITH SIGNS DEMANDING FUNDINGS AND IMPROVEMENTS FOR THE HEALTH SECTOR

2. SIGN READING (Spanish): "More rights, less right"

3. VARIOUS OF PEOPLE PROTESTING

4. PROTESTERS PLAYING DRUMS

5. SIGN READING (Spanish): "For more health - For more salary"

6. PROTESTERS MARCHING

7. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) INTENSIVE CARE RESIDENT DOCTOR, DANIELA LANGIANESE, SAYING:

"What we are protesting against is a decrease in investment in public health. There were huge budget cuts, and many essential people are being laid off who are needed to keep large hospitals running. The main problem is with hospitals that depend on national funding, such as Garrahan Hospital, El Cruce Hospital, Posadas Hospital, which are all highly complex hospitals that receive people from all over the country, and they are facing a very serious budget crisis."

8. MEDICAL PERSONNEL AND RESIDENTS MARCHING WITH SIGNS AGAINST CUTBACK POLICIES IN THE HEALTH SECTOR

9. SIGN READING (Spanish): “In defence of public health”

10. VARIOUS OF PROTESTERS MARCHING

11. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) INTENSIVE CARE RESIDENT DOCTOR, DANIELA LANGIANESE, SAYING:

"And this causes problems for everyone, not just for people who use public health. It's important for people to understand that even if they have private health insurance or can pay for coverage, they might go to the emergency room and find a doctor who isn't properly trained."

12. PROTESTERS MARCHING, CLAPPING THEIR HANDS

13. VARIOUS OF WOMEN WITH DRUMS PERFORMING BATUCADA

14. MEDICAL STAFF FROM GARRAHAN PEDIATRIC HOSPITAL MARCHING WITH SIGNS IN HAND

15. SIGN READING (Spanish): "No one can save themself alone, Garrahanes (Garrahan hospital workers) is a national cause”

16. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) DOCTOR, JULIETA SALA, SAYING:

"Because of the national government's policies, we are going through major defunding of a system that was already struggling, but right now the cuts are huge. In fact, the health budget has been frozen for two years, and with our inflation levels, that basically means a very serious defunding."

17. VARIOUS OF PROTESTERS MARCHING

18. RIOT POLICE OFFICERS DEPLOYING

19. PROTESTER WALKING AND CLAPPING HAND

20. PROTESTERS MARCHING

21. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) DOCTOR, JULIETA SALA, SAYING:

"The defunding of public health means that, for example, right now as more people have to turn to the public system because they lost their jobs, got fired, lost their social insurance, and can't afford private care, the public system not only has less funding but also more demand."

22. VARIOUS OF PEOPLE MARCHING IN DEFENCE OF PUBLIC HEALTH

23. VARIOUS OF MEDICAL STAFF WITH SIGNS AGAINST THE CUTBACK POLICIES OF ARGENTINIAN PRESIDENT JAVIER MILEI'S GOVERNMENT

24. SIGN READING (Spanish): “Milei, we are not interns, we are not expenses, we are the health system.”

25. MEDICAL STAFF WITH SIGNS AGAINST THE CUTBACK POLICIES OF JAVIER MILEI'S GOVERNMENT

26. PROTESTER HOLDING A SIGN WITH A CARICATURE OF JAVIER MILEI READING (Spanish): "Unhealthy"