Decentralization and Structure of Medical Salaries in Argentina: A Comparative Analysis in Five Jurisdictions

Authors

  • Daniel Maceira Centro de Estudios de Estado y Sociedad (CEDES), CONICET, Universidad de Buenos Aires (UBA)
  • Daniel Maceira Centro de Estudios de Estado y Sociedad (CEDES), CONICET, Universidad de Buenos Aires (UBA)
  • Alfredo Palacios CEDES, UBA
  • Marilina Urrutia Universidad Nacional del Comahue.
  • Natalia Espinola CEDES, Universidad Nacional de La Plata
  • Mariela Nievas Hospital L. Agote, Chamical, La Rioja

Keywords:

Physician Wages, Human Resources for Health, Physician Labor Market, Wage Policy

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: The functioning of the health system is based on the characteristics of the human resources and on how they coordinate and complement each other to cover the population’s needs. OBJECTIVES: To analyze the contractual characteristics of physician wages in Argentina as well as their amounts and composition, in the context of a decentralized public health system. METHODS: Case studies were performed in five jurisdictions in Argentina: Buenos Aires City, Chaco, La Rioja, Neuquén and Salta. In each of them, three public hospitals were selected. Multiple-choice surveys were conducted on a representative sample of medical personnel. Databases of medical wages were used as secondary source of information, they were provided by the Human Resources Department of each Ministry of Health. RESULTS: The capacity to define “game rules” relevant to contractual arrangements, wage levels and structure is extremely wide between jurisdictions and even between hospitals. The analysis showed a high level of formalization of labor contracts, diversity in management and incentive structures, and significant gaps between hospitals within each jurisdiction. CONCLUSIONS: The topic of medical remuneration in Argentina presents not only a wide variety of cases and peculiarities by jurisdiction, but also many alternative approaches.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Published

07-07-2017

How to Cite

Maceira , D. ., Maceira , D. ., Palacios , A. . ., Urrutia , M., Espinola , N. ., & Nievas , M. (2017). Decentralization and Structure of Medical Salaries in Argentina: A Comparative Analysis in Five Jurisdictions. Revista Argentina De Salud Pública, 8(30), 26–32. Retrieved from https://rasp.msal.gov.ar/index.php/rasp/article/view/140