Public policies on Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome in Argentina (HUS): an analysis of its inclusion in the political agenda.

BELARDO MARCELA; IBARRA CRISTINA

Buenos Aires

Simposio; VTEC2009: 7th International Symposium on Shiga Toxin (Verocytotoxin)-producing Escherichia coli infections.; 2009

Asociación Argentina de Microbiología

Purpose: In Argentina, the State has launched policies on HUS in 2000, through different public agencies. Since 2000 HUS has been notified to the Ministry of Health. However, a wide public debate is necessary to design a comprehensive national program, which will involve key actors (civil society, scientific sector, health professionals and providers, health and other government officials, producers of red meat), in order to lower the incidence of HUS in Argentina. A description and systematization of the genesis and current implementation of HUS policies would be an important input to this purpose. Objective: to describe the public policies aiming at preventing and controlling HUS, explain the emergence of HUS within the political agenda in Argentina and analyze the constitution of a policy network around this issue. Methods: Qualitative and exploratory social study. Techniques included: 1. Search and systematization of secondary data: legislation on prevention and control of Escherichia Coli and HUS (national laws, resolutions, decrees, bills) through www.infoleg.gov and other sites; 2. Interviews to key informants (scientists, health professionals, and officials); 3. Reports on National and International Meetings on HUS. Data have been organized, classified and systematized in relation to the assessment, design, implementation, and monitoring and evaluation of public policies. Results: In Argentina, HUS is a pathology that has been object of research since 30 years, but the strategies of control and prevention have been implemented more recently. Two main strategies of control have been registered: epidemiological surveillance and modification of norms on primary, industrial and commercialization of red meat sectors. Strategies of prevention include educational campaigns addressed to the civil society through mass media and to patients at public hospitals and primary health care centers, distribution of information, and specialization of pediatricians. However, there is no national comprehensive program on HUS yet. Conclusions: Since the recognition from the State in 2000 a series of actions has been implemented but they do not constitute a comprehensive program yet. Material and human resources are not articulated, massive campaigns are not systematic, and the power of control by the public sector on the industry and processing of food based on red meat is not adequate to reduce the incidence of HUS. Our analysis of incipient public policies supports the need to develop an integrated and comprehensive national program to deal the complex processes of this pathology. Keywords: Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome, Health Public Policy, National Strategies; Control and Prevention Strategies.