Obstacles and Facilitators to Guarantee the Right to Integral Transgender Health in Gran Buenos Aires and La Plata

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Argentina’s Gender Identity Law (26743/12) provides coverage within the Mandatory Medical Plan for surgical procedures and hormonal treatments whose aim is to align body to gender identity. OBJECTIVES: To address obstacles and facilitators to guarantee and apply the Gender Identity Law, developed by health professionals specialized in gender reaffirmation treatments in Gran Buenos Aires and the city of La Plata during 2012-2015. METHODS: A qualitative research based on in-depth interviews was conducted. It included 12 interviews to health professionals from the fields of Surgery, Endocrinology, Gynecology and Mental Health, belonging to the three health subsystems (public, private and social security). RESULTS: Health professionals developed local strategies to comply with the Gender Identity Law and had to deal with bureaucratic obstacles and the lack of human and hospital resources. At the same time, they identified tensions with transgender users of the health system. CONCLUSIONS: It is necessary to implement a centralized program for training, planning and management of human and hospital resources, which strengthens the link between health system and its specialized professionals and also opens channels for dialog with user organizations.