[Interdependent islands: health policies and medical practices in the care, management, and research of a neglected disease in the Global South].

This study analyzes medical practices related to hydatidosis in the province of Santiago del Estero, Argentina. This parasitic zoonotic disease is recognized as a significant public health problem in South America. Nevertheless, it is included among the neglected diseases as classified by the World Health Organization - those that primarily affect the poorest populations living in rural, remote, or marginalized areas with limited access to health services. The objective is to examine how hydatidosis is configured as a health issue through an analysis of medical practices involved in its care, management, and research, from Global South perspectives. A qualitative design was employed, including interviews with healthcare professionals working in the field, as well as the construction of a documentary corpus comprising technical reports from 2015 to 2023 and public policies at different levels. The study identifies three main characteristics of practices related to hydatidosis in Santiago del Estero: (1) a medical management style marked by colonial and authoritarian traits, in tension with local technical autonomy and weakened by a lack of political support; (2) fragmented healthcare processes, with limited intersectoral coordination and a predominance of biomedical and technocratic models; and (3) health research aligned with global priorities, often disconnected from local needs. These dynamics reflect a structural dependence on standardized approaches, to the detriment of contextualized and comprehensive public health strategies.