The public health system in Jujuy has undergone significant changes over the past decade, with investments and reforms aimed at improving healthcare access and quality across the province.
Health Minister Gustavo Bouhid stated, “This Government has made the largest investment in health in the history of Jujuy. In 10 years of management, a total of 22,921,138,259.65 pesos were invested in works, renovations, equipment purchases, permanent supply, hiring agents and professionals throughout the provincial territory. Only during the pandemic, the investment reached 2,619,188,357 pesos, strengthening the system as a whole.”
Bouhid explained that from the beginning of his administration, an initial diagnosis of the provincial health system led to the design of a Strategic Health Plan (PES), which was later updated. “From the start of our administration… we designed the first stage of the Strategic Health Plan (PES) and subsequently a second stage updating axes and objectives. Ten years later we have achieved real milestones in health indicators with improvements that show results and positive impact on the population; substantial improvement in health infrastructure with modern conditions suitable for community care; increased services across all regions; and full accessibility ensuring everyone’s right to health at every stage of life,” he said.
He also highlighted collaboration efforts: “In every strategically designed action… we have had unwavering support from former governor Gerardo Morales and governor Carlos Sadir as well as commitment from each member of Jujuy’s health system. It is work that often knows no rest or schedules and I thank them again.”
As part of its strategic plan priorities, Jujuy expanded coverage and accessibility within its public system. This included increasing itinerant services so people could receive care locally rather than traveling to more complex centers.
Jujuy became recognized nationally for mental health initiatives by being the only province to integrate psychologists into emergency medical services (SAME). The province also established mental health and addiction emergency rooms in key hospitals to strengthen urgent care.
Modernization efforts included digital tools such as WhatsApp appointment scheduling—implemented in 11 hospitals with over 122,000 appointments managed in ten months—alongside electronic medical records and patient imaging portals across hospital networks. Telemedicine was consolidated so each primary care post had a doctor assigned. The provincial call center handled nearly 187,000 appointments between January and November 2025.
A pioneering public strategy called “Paso a paso para un gran cambio” addressed obesity through interdisciplinary methods. A Home Care Unit (UCD) was launched with new vehicles to provide home visits; it completed 300 visits between October and December 2025.
A major milestone was achieved when Hospital Pablo Soria performed public kidney transplants—the first procedure took place in December 2024 followed by three more by June 2025—demonstrating high-complexity capabilities within Jujuy’s public sector.
Between 2024 and 2025 there were also extensive outreach operations: 650 territorial campaigns reached over 60,000 people in neighborhoods and settlements; house-to-house screenings numbered over one hundred; dental operations totaled thirty; ophthalmological campaigns forty-four—with distribution of more than three thousand eyeglasses—to improve essential healthcare access.
Over ten years several new facilities opened including rehabilitation centers “Dr. Carlos Jure” and “Tilcara,” Provincial Dentistry Center “Dr. Amado Jorge,” Regional Hemotherapy Center, Senior Adult Center (CEPAM), specialty centers CEN & CES-Snopek, Model Rehabilitation Center (CEMIR), Data Monitoring Center, modular hospitals in Humahuaca & Susques, CRENNA for children/adolescents’ recovery/rehabilitation needs; upgrades were made at numerous primary care centers across Jujuy along with operating room renovations at multiple hospitals including Pablo Soria.
The province also improved its fleet for medical transport by adding ambulances equipped for high complexity cases—including four-wheel drive vehicles—and even acquired a medical helicopter to boost response capacity throughout its territory.
Equipment upgrades included mammography machines installed at Palpalá & La Quiaca locations; CT scanners added at Susques among other cities including Pablo Soria de Capital; MRI machines plus digital X-ray systems were introduced at Pablo Soria as well as other major regional hospitals.
