After facing a scandal over increases in prepaid fees and his departure from the chamber that brings together the main private medicine companies, Claudio Belocopitt, the owner of Swiss Medical and former president of the Argentine Health Union (UAS), decided to give up buying Medicus. However, he kept the rest of the shares needed to complete the total ownership of the Sanatorium The Lomas of San Isidro, which he already owned 30% of and later acquired 50%.
The Medicus operation, which began in 2022 with negotiations with founder Jorge Aufiero and involved an estimated disbursement of US$ 23 million, came under scrutiny by the Defense of Competition (CNDC). The CNDC is investigating the concentration of Swiss Medical through the acquisition of Medicus, as it could lead to a dominant market position.
While Belocopitt initially had 50% of Medicus and the Sanatorium Las Lomas, he decided to keep 100% of Medicus and part ways with the 50% ownership of the San Isidro health center. Despite having ownership stakes in both, he did not intervene in the day-to-day management of either.
In addition to the CNDC investigation, Belocopitt also faced criticism for receiving subsidies, totaling US$ 13 million, collected during the pandemic through the ATP and Repro mechanisms. Despite these challenges, Swiss Medical remains the second largest prepaid company in Argentina, behind Osde, with over 1 million members.
Belocopitt’s business portfolio also includes other healthcare institutions such as the Cardiovascular Institute of Buenos Aires (ICBA), Sanatorio Las Lomas, Agote and Los Arcos clinics, Zabala and Olivos clinics, as well as pediatric centers in Neuquén and Salta. He recently acquired the remaining 50% of Las Lomas and plans to offer Swiss Medical services there until the completion of a new health center being built in Nordelta.