And the World Bank's investments there are relatively small compared with the size of the overall economy and government budget. Investments in human capital, particularly education, health and social protection, have been a major part of the Bank's program in Argentina since 1993. It has an extensive health system. But, until recently, health spending has focused on medical insurance for the elderly and for workers in the formal, private sector. The long-term jobless have no health insurance and have to depend on public hospitals for most care.
Hospitals are free for the poor.
But, over the past few years as a result of the economic crisis, the hospitals have been jammed, and waiting lines are long. Public health services are poorly equipped to handle the growing demand. This is especially true of primary care services and prevention, which have never had adequate resources. With a high need for health care, poor mothers and children have suffered disproportionately. The Health, Nutrition, and Early Childhood Development Project is designed to support Argentina in providing first-class health and child care for these disadvantaged children and mothers.