Serious irregularities have been detected by Argentina's National General Comptroller (AGN) in the handling of Health Ministry funds during the early stages of the Covid-19 pandemic, it was reported in Buenos Aires.
The Argentine government has published a list of 70 influential figures, mostly politicians and close friends and family members, who have received preferential vaccine Covid-19 treatment, at the Posadas Hospital in Buenos Aires.
Argentine president Alberto Fernandez blasted his former health minister, and close friend, Gines Gonzalez García over an “unforgivable” coronavirus vaccine scandal, in quotes published on Sunday.
Argentina has a new Health Minister Carla Vizzotti, who was sworn in on Saturday after the country was rattled by a scandal over VIP coronavirus vaccine access. The incoming official pledged to strengthen oversight and transparency of the inoculation program.
Argentina's current Deputy Health minister Carla Vizzotti, will be appointed Minister on Saturday following the Friday resignation of Ginés González García, who had organized at the ministry a VIP Covid-19 vaccination hall for government officials, friends and family.
Argentina's health ministry said on Wednesday it has given the controversial Russian Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine emergency authorization, making the country the first in Latin America to do so. The first shipment of the total 25 million doses of the vaccine bought by the Argentine government is due to arrive on Thursday.
Argentina and the UK hosted a virtual seminar on access to vaccines in Latin America and the Caribbean addressing the portfolio of emerging vaccines against COVID-19, the challenge of equitable distribution and how best to tackle vaccine disinformation.
Argentina on Tuesday reported 6,981 new COVID-19 cases, bringing its national tally to 1,510,203, said the Ministry of Health. The ministry also said that 165 more patients died of the disease, raising the nationwide death toll to 41,204.
Football in Argentina will not return any time soon as the country grapples with rising Covid-19 infections, according to health minister Gines Gonzalez. Organized sport in Argentina has been suspended since mid-March and there has been no indication of when it might resume, reported the local media.
The World Bank Board of Directors today approved a US$ 35 million emergency loan to support the Argentine government efforts to minimize the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the health system through the procurement of medical supplies and equipment. This financing forms part of a World Bank fast track package of up to US$ 14 billion to help countries cope with the health and economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.