I just reviewed the health data recently published by the government, and there is something that really concerns me. Maternal mortality in Argentina increased by 37% in 2024. We went from 3.2 to 4.4 deaths per 10,000 live births. This is not a small number considering that for two decades this indicator remained relatively stable.

What draws attention is that the increase is due both to more actual deaths—183 compared to 147 in 2023—and a sharp decline in birth rates. This means that people capable of gestation had a 1.37 times higher risk of dying from causes related to pregnancy, childbirth, or postpartum compared to the previous year. Basically, we are regressing on indicators that had been consistently improving.

And the problem doesn't end there. Infant mortality also rose, from 8 to 8.5 deaths per 1,000 live births. It was the first increase since 2002. During 2024, 3,513 children under one year old died. Experts point out that although the number is lower than in 2023, the decrease is due to fewer babies being born, not a real improvement in the system.

Adolfo Rubinstein, former Minister of Health, was clear in warning that this is very concerning because it breaks a long-standing downward trend. He attributed it to the growth of poverty and its health consequences, a process that has deepened in recent years. Specialists also mention that deteriorating employment conditions and unemployment are making it harder to access the healthcare system and reducing preventive checkups.

The increase in infant mortality was mainly concentrated in neonatal deaths, which occur during the first month. These are associated with premature births and congenital malformations, many of which are potentially treatable. A report from Health Sovereignty links this to the economic crisis: precarious working conditions and unemployment reduce health controls and shift attention toward emergencies. They also point out that the precarization of life hampers the necessary pregnancy controls to ensure safe deliveries.

Pablo Yedlin, a doctor and congressman, summarized it well: almost all maternal mortality is preventable. But to prevent it, you need a functioning healthcare system, accessible checkups, and decent living conditions.

What is most worrying is territorial inequality. Only 9 of the 24 provinces reduced infant mortality. In 15, there were increases, some over 20%. Corrientes has the highest rate with 14 infant deaths per 1,000 live births, followed by Chaco with 11.8 and La Rioja with 11.7. In contrast, Buenos Aires recorded 4.9. This gap reflects fragmentation of the healthcare system and unequal access.

Experts agree that both infant and maternal mortality serve as sensitive indicators of living conditions and the performance of health policies. The fact that the greatest increase is in the first days of life reinforces the connection with the quality of prenatal care, childbirth attention, and newborn care. After years of improvement, this convergence of both indicators suggests increasing difficulties in accessing the healthcare system and preventing events that are mostly avoidable. It is a setback we cannot ignore.