Among the main axes, the intention to guarantee more equitable access to mental health services throughout the country stands out, in the face of the lack of uniform application that generates inequalities.
For the preparation of the initiative, the Ministry of Health collected contributions from family members, patients, professionals and representatives of the judicial and legislative spheres. Based on this process, specific problems were identified in the implementation of the current system, especially with regard to the capacity to intervene in critical situations
The Government of Javier Milei will send a new mental health bill to Congress in the coming days, with the objective of updating current regulations and correcting deficiencies in their implementation.
This was confirmed by the Chief of Staff, Manuel Adorni, through social networks: "In the coming days we will be sending the new mental health law to the National Congress.”
In parallel, the Minister of Health, Mario Lugones, explained the fundamentals of the project through a message on his social networks: "The current law, promoted by Kirchnerism in 2010, created difficulties in accessing timely treatments and hospitalizations, leaving a gap that has not yet been resolved.”
“This failure was suffered by many families who for years sought help without finding an answer, even in critical situations in which timely intervention could have prevented serious or fatal outcomes,” he added.
The Minister of Health, Mario Lugones.
The minister highlighted the collaboration of different groups to correct the problems: "To identify the main obstacles in implementation, contributions were collected from the actors involved, family members, health professionals and specialists, which made it possible to detect specific difficulties in daily practice
.”
Finally, he stated that “this modification seeks to enable the system to intervene in time, with clearer criteria and concrete tools to act in the face of risk situations. This is the direction of this Government, led by President Javier Milei: to put the lives and health of Argentines first
.”
Details of the new bill
The bill aims to update the law enacted in 2010, incorporating changes aimed at improving the health response and adapting care criteria to the current needs of
.
One of the proposed changes is the modification of key concepts. In this sense, it is proposed to replace the term “mental illness” with the International Classification of Diseases, with the objective of achieving greater precision in diagnoses. In addition, the risk criterion is redefined as a “situation of risk of harm to life or physical integrity”, incorporating context and background to allow for more timely interventions
. Jose Borda Hospital.
As for hospitalizations, the project maintains its exceptional character, but introduces adjustments to the procedures. It is established that the psychiatrist may indicate them in emergency situations, with an interdisciplinary ratification within 24 hours and judicial notification within the same period. It is also planned to review voluntary discharge depending on the patient's capacity
.
Another important point of the project is the revision of the care scheme. The document warns that closing psychiatric hospitals and transferring patients to general hospitals is not always feasible, due to resource limitations and security conditions. Within this framework, there is a need to maintain specialized hospitalization for complex cases
.
The proposal also includes the strengthening of a mental health care network organized by levels of complexity, which integrates specialized hospitals, general hospitals, outpatient devices, community spaces and assisted living facilities.
Finally, the project contemplates improvements in information systems, such as RESAM and REFES, with the objective of having more accurate data on available resources and optimizing health system planning.
With this initiative, the Government of Milei seeks to advance a comprehensive reform of the mental health legal framework, focusing on early intervention, the availability of concrete tools and the expansion of access to treatment throughout the country.
