La Derecha Diario Controversy over the purchase of Viagra for prisoners in Córdoba: the government provided explanations
It was reported that public funds were used to purchase sildenafil and other products for inmates
The complaint was filed after the member of the Court of Auditors, Beltrán Corvalán, reviewed an invoice from the Penitentiary Service for April 2024. The invoice listed medications such as sildenafil and personal hygiene products. The Government explained that the purchase was due to chronic medical treatments.
Corvalán shared the information on social media, generating public repercussions. "It's a scandalous matter," stated the member. "The government of the province of Córdoba has purchased Viagra for the inmates," he added.
The invoice also included items such as moisturizing creams, anti-dandruff shampoo, contraceptives, and AG factor. "We view this with astonishment, with amazement," said Corvalán. The statements were made in an interview with Canal 10 of Córdoba.
The official questioned the expenditure and the lack of medical documentation
Corvalán pointed out that no clinical documents were attached to justify the purchase. "We base our work on the files, the invoice is not included, nor any type of medical record," he indicated. "Absolutely nothing is included," added the member.
The official also questioned the distribution of provincial resources. "They constantly raise our taxes and they're spending our tax money on this," he stated. "We're not going to allow it," he concluded.
He also criticized the situation in health centers. "There is a lack of medications and supplies in public hospitals," he pointed out. In this context, he described the expenditure on products for inmates as unnecessary: "They often have us accustomed to all these expenses," he concluded.
The Government defended the purchase as part of medical treatments
Ariel Salari, head of the SPC health department, replied publicly. "We have patients with pulmonary hypertension," he explained. "This is a chronic disease whose symptomatic treatment is sildenafil," he specified.
"We purchase this drug for these chronic treatments," Salari added. He also clarified that purchasing decisions are based on external indications. "They are made based on indications from doctors at hospitals outside the penitentiary system," he declared.
Regarding other products, the official provided more details. "Moisturizing creams are used for inmates who present with psoriasis," he said. Regarding condoms, he stated: "We see it as our duty to purchase condoms to prevent sexually transmitted diseases."
Only three inmates would require this type of medication in 2025
The Government reported the number of inmates under chronic treatments. In 2024, four inmates were registered under this regime. Two of them suffered from pulmonary hypertension and two others from prostatic hyperplasia.
Salari also specified the active ingredients of the drugs used. "The drug, whose active ingredient is sildenafil, is indicated in cases of pulmonary hypertension," he stated. "There is a milder drug, tadalafil," he added.
Finally, he indicated that the number of cases has decreased. "In 2025, only three inmates would require the reported medication," he reported. The provincial Government shared this data after the public dissemination of the case.
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