The Kirchnerist minister also rejected that Argentine citizens should be prioritized over foreigners
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The Health Minister of the Province of Buenos Aires, Nicolás Kreplak, publicly defended free medical care for foreigners and questioned the decision of the Buenos Aires City government to begin charging for health services to those who do not have an Argentine ID.
His statements came after the Head of Government of the City of Buenos Aires, Jorge Macri, announced a change in the Buenos Aires City health system, in line with the policies implemented by the government of Javier Milei at the national level.
“The time when foreigners received free care is over. Everyone who doesn't have an Argentine ID is charged. And not only that, but for the first time in history Buenos Aires residents have priority. It was a matter of political decision”, Macri stated on his official account.
El ministro kirchnerista Nicolás Kreplak
The response from Axel Kicillof's minister did not take long to arrive. The official strongly criticized the measure, defended the continuity of free care for immigrants, even though it is entirely financed by Argentine taxpayers, and rejected the idea that locals should have priority over foreigners.
“In the city that has all the hospitals that were built by the Nation for a national capital, inherited, that also has all the national hospitals such as Churruca, Military, Naval, Roffo, Clínicas, among others, where in addition all the central hospitals of the national health insurance funds are located, its mayor has the pettiness to decide whom to treat and whom not to”, Kreplak stated.
In the same message, the minister deepened his criticism with a phrase that caused controversy: “Which life is worth something and which is not. From someone from whom no one expected anything, nothing is being done”.
The statements of the Kirchnerist official reflect his clear stance in favor of unrestricted and free access to the public health system for foreigners, even when that system is sustained by the taxes of Argentine citizens.
This position contrasts with the reality faced by many Argentines in neighboring countries, where they must pay for medical care without exceptions, which has caused a growing debate about reciprocity and the use of public resources.
El presidente Javier Milei.
The Milei government's reform
In parallel, the government of Javier Milei moved forward with a structural immigration reform during 2025 that deeply modified this framework. Among the measures adopted, the free nature of public health care for temporary and transitory residents was eliminated, who now must pay for services or have mandatory health insurance.
The reform also tightened immigration controls, prioritized the deportation of illegal immigrants or those who commit crimes, and allowed national universities to charge tuition fees to foreign students without permanent residency. These decisions were driven with the objective of prioritizing Argentine citizens, who sustain the system with the fruit of their labor.
In this context, Kreplak's statements made clear the ideological difference between the Kirchnerist administration and the national government. While the provincial administration defends the continuity of free access for foreigners financed by local taxpayers, the national administration moved forward with measures aimed at limiting that benefit and reinforcing the priority for Argentine citizens.
