Córdoba: the crisis at La Falda Hospital exposed Dieminger in the Legislature

The situation at the Municipal Hospital of La Falda was the focus of a heated political clash in the Córdoba Legislature.Opposition legislators submitted a request for information to the provincial government regarding the hospital crisis, whose operating room has remained closed for almost four months. Meanwhile, the ruling party targeted Mayor Javier Dieminger for outsourcing key services instead of strengthening the public system.

The proposal was submitted by legislators José Bría, Alejandra Ferrero, and Walter Gispert, whodemanded answers regarding the drop in funding and the lack of obstetric care. The opposition requested to know why priority is given to building a new hospital in Carlos Paz while areas such as Punilla still lack essential services. They also demand a solution for childbirth in the public sector, which currently doesn't take place in any hospital between Cruz del Eje and Funes.

The debate included the request for participation from self-organized residents, who have been demanding improvements at the hospital for months. "The economic situation forced a complete reassessment, and that created a crisis in the central-northern part of the department," Gispert said. Since its closure, the most vulnerable sectors have had to travel to Funes Hospital without an adequate transportation system.

While the hospital deteriorates, Dieminger uses public resources to organize festivals

The local hospital's operating room has been closed since April, but in winter the municipality organized events such as the National Tango Festival. In the midst of a health crisis, the mayor decided to allocate municipal funds to tourism while outsourcing medical care to a private clinic. The agreement with the Central Medical Emergency was made quietly and without consultation with legislators or residents.

Cristian Frías, president of the Health Commission, was blunt in questioning that political decision. "I'm surprised that provincialization is being requested while, at the same time, the municipality outsources services to private institutions," he stated. The legislator defended the provincial contribution and clarified that La Falda received more than 83 million pesos (more than 183 million pounds) per month during 2024.

Frías also warned about the use of funds: "The resources sent by the Province must be used for the benefit of residents, not for outsourcing." The municipality chose to cut essential services and transfer responsibilities without informing the Council or the community. Meanwhile, the region's health needs remain unsolved.

They demand a new fund for regional hospitals and criticize the Nation for the drop in resources

Legislator José Bría proposed creating a specific fund to assist municipal hospitals with regional or higher complexity functions. "It's time to focus on the 2026 budget and reconsider the allocation of funds; municipal hospitals can't take it anymore," he stated during the debate. He also suggested redistributing spending to prioritize infrastructure and medical personnel.

In his presentation, Frías defended the FOFINDES system and explained that it is not a discretionary fund. He stated that "it's a tool for equitable distribution that is maintained transparently" and criticized the decline in national funds. "The reduction in resources transferred by the Nation decreases the co-participation pool and, therefore, the funds available to support municipalities," he emphasized.

The ruling party proposed returning the issue to committee for in-depth discussion and to move toward a budgetary solution in 2026. The motion was approved by a show of hands, although no new date was set to address the proposal. Meanwhile, the La Falda hospital continues without an operating room, without childbirths, and with medical care fragmented by the mayor's decision.