A crash hours after taking office
Pablo Di Liscia, who was sworn in as Argentina's national secretary of disability, was involved in a traffic accident while riding a motorcycle. The collision occurred in the early hours of Tuesday, September 29, on Avenida General Paz at the junction with Panamericana, opposite the DOT shopping center, in the direction of the Riachuelo, according to the SAME emergency service report. The crash involved a car and a motorcycle. Di Liscia was wearing a helmet at the time, which prevented more severe consequences. He was taken to Hospital Pirovano in the city of Buenos Aires.[S1][S3][S5][S6]
Medical sources reported that Di Liscia, 60, suffered multiple fractures: seven ribs on the right side, a clavicle and a scapula. He also developed a hemothorax that required a chest drain. He was admitted with a request for a shock room and is currently in the intensive care unit, where he is receiving mechanical respiratory assistance. His clinical condition is delicate due to the number of injuries, but he has no neurological damage and is out of danger. The medical team continues to evaluate his progress and has not said how long he will remain hospitalized or whether he will need a leave of absence.[S3][S5][S6]
A secretariat already under pressure
Di Liscia's appointment was formalized by decree published in the Official Gazette on Monday, September 28, after the resignation of Alejandro Vilches. Vilches stepped down amid controversy over cuts to disability funds in the 2027 budget and the government's rejection of a congressional bill to extend the state of emergency in the sector. The secretariat was reorganized: it no longer depends on the National Disability Agency (ANDIS) and now operates under the Ministry of Health. The government said Di Liscia's main goals would be to improve access to benefits for people with disabilities, strengthen the agency's management and control systems, and ensure efficient use of resources. He is also expected to continue audits of disability pensions to detect irregularities and fraudulent claims.[S1][S2][S3][S4]
Before his appointment, Di Liscia had a long career in public administration and the private sector. He presided over the Instituto de Obra Médico Asistencial (IOMA) of Buenos Aires province between 2017 and 2019, during the governorship of María Eugenia Vidal; the health insurer has more than 2.2 million members. He also served in the Buenos Aires city government as director of management control and undersecretary of urban hygiene, and was an adviser to the city's cabinet chief between August 2022 and December 2023 and again between July and December 2025. He is linked to Economy Minister Luis Caputo. As of the close of this report, the government had not decided who would take over the day-to-day leadership of the secretariat during his recovery.[S1][S2][S3][S4][S5]
