From the 21^st to the 25^th of July, a Delegation of the International Association of Mutual Benefit Societies (AIM) carried out an official mission to Argentina and Uruguay, strengthening ties with AIM members and other mutualist organisations in Latin America and reaffirming AIM’s commitment to solidarity-based health systems.

In Buenos Aires, AIM was warmly welcomed by the Confederación Argentina de Mutualidades (CAM) and its President, Alejandro Russo, who also serves as AIM Vice-President for Latin America. The mission included a rich agenda of meetings with national authorities and mutualist leaders. AIM representatives, including AIM’s President Loek Caubo, AIM’s Director Sibylle Reichert, and AIM’s Vice-Presidents Yannick Lucas, Verena Nold, Abdelaziz Alaoui, and the Director of CMCM in Luxembourg Fabio Secci met with Dr. Marcelo Collomb, President of the National Institute of Associativism and Social Economy (INAES), and members of the Commission of Cooperatives and Mutuals in the National Congress, chaired by Deputy Eduardo Toniolli.

In addition, CAM and FAMSA hosted a Congress on Mutualism in Health under the theme “Global Health Challenges, Solidarity-Based Responses”, which brought together leaders from Argentina and abroad, including the Minister of Health, Mario Lugones. The discussions focused on global issues such as the high cost of medicines, demographic change, and the role of artificial intelligence in healthcare. AIM’s contribution, including Ms. Reichert’s presentation of AIM’s EU Fair Pricing Model, highlighted how mutualism offers concrete solutions to ensure access to healthcare based on solidarity and sustainability.

The delegation also visited key mutualist healthcare institutions, such as the Spanish and Italian Hospitals of La Plata, emblematic examples of how solidarity and resilience can sustain healthcare services for over 140 years. Meetings with the Mutual Association of Private Practice Physicians (AMUMAP) further demonstrated the strength and innovation of Argentina’s mutualist movement.

In Uruguay, AIM delegation met with Cristina Lustemberg, Minister of Health, for an exchange on the country’s health system and the pharmaceutical challenges. Discussions revealed shared concerns such as the rising prices of medicines, the demographic shifts, and the need to balance innovation and equity, which strong align with AIM’s vision for a new social contract in health.

Throughout the mission, AIM emphasised that global cooperation, mutual learning, and open dialogue are key to building solidarity-based systems that can face the universal challenges of health. The exchanges in Argentina and Uruguay reaffirmed that mutuals are not only a part of history but a vital force for the future of healthcare worldwide.