PSI unions in Argentina reacted with alarm and concern to President Javier Milei's decision to withdraw the country from the World Health Organization (WHO) - a move that comes just days after Trump announced the same. Health sector unions qualify the measure as a criminal action that may impact the ConoSur country much more, even though both countries will stop sharing knowledge and common health measures in the world.

Health workers, through their unions, warn that this decision will have serious consequences for the Argentine health system. The move not only affects the country's participation in crucial international forums, but also compromises access to vital public health resources and knowledge.

By leaving the organization, this means that Argentina is also out of the Pandemic Treaty being discussed at the WHO.

"Leaving the WHO has no benefit, neither health nor economic, but quite the opposite. It means leaving Argentina out of multilateralism, out of epidemiological surveillance, out of the distribution of certain high-cost drugs at an affordable price. It is to be left out of the discussions that take place at world level in the face of different pathogens, antibiotic resistance, and the number of issues that health requires on a daily basis", stated Maria Fernanda, president of Fesprosa, the Trade Union Federation of Health Professionals of the Argentine Republic, which represents more than 30,000 health professionals throughout Argentina.

"In health we need to share data, knowledge, science and shared technology, so this decision exposes the entire population to a health risk, since viruses, bacteria, fungi and diseases know no borders," added the union leader, who also recalled that this means that Argentina is also outside the Pandemic Treaty being discussed at the WHO.

The health sector of the Argentine coordination of PSI categorically rejected the decision of the extreme right-wing president, Javier Milei. "For us it is very evident that it goes in line with foreign interests to the country, which are linked to the current US administration. In what contemplates health not as a business, we always need more international articulation and greater state participation," said Santiago Picone of the health sector of UPCN, the Union of Civilian Personnel of the Nation.

"We consider alarming and very dangerous, government decisions that go in line with withdrawing state participation in everything related to basic human needs," stressed the leader.

Being part of WHO allows countries to share and receive scientific information necessary to safeguard the health and well-being of their citizens.

Baba Aye, PSI global health officer, says Javier Milei's decision is indefensible. "As the global union federation of health and care workers, PSI can clearly state that it is not in the best interest of the people of Argentina. It is also counterproductive in the face of the need, more than ever, to build global solidarity."

"WHO is the leading international health body. Being part of WHO allows countries to share and receive scientific information needed to safeguard the health and well-being of their citizens. As a non-state actor in official relations with WHO, we can make the collective voice of health and care workers heard in WHO's governing bodies and decision-making processes," Aye stressed.

Serious threat

In addition to the announcement of the country's exit from the WHO, another decision issued by the Argentine Ministry of Health is of concern to Argentine workers, the decree that decides to redirect workers' health contributions to private entities.

Faced with the serious threat posed by Resolution No. 1/2025APN-UGA MS, which goes against the fundamental principles of social security and the right to health, violating constitutional rights and international treaties ratified by the country, PSI expressed its deepest solidarity with the Argentinean people.

"This measure constitutes a direct blow to the solidarity model that guarantees medical coverage for millions of people in Argentina. As our affiliated organizations have rightly pointed out, this resolution not only weakens union social works, but also undermines the intangibility of wages, compromises the quality and continuity of health services and opens the door to a covert privatization of the health system," says the regional secretary for Inter-America, Euan Gibb.

From PSI, we join the call of our affiliated organizations to demand:

• The immediate annulment of Resolution No. 1/2025APN-UGA MS.

• The protection of the financing of union social works and the respect for the solidarity structure of the health system.

• The guarantee that workers' contributions are used exclusively for their health coverage and that of their families.

• We urge the authorities to respect international commitments on human rights and social security and to desist from any initiative that implies a regression in the protection of labor and health rights.