Hospital Borda 3.92

The Hospital Interdisciplinario Psicoasistencial José Tiburcio Borda is the largest and most notable psychiatric hospital in Argentina. Situated on, El Borda is located on Calle Ramón Carrillo, Barracas, Buenos Aires, next to the Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatric Hospital Garcia Tobar.HistoryThe hospital was founded in 1863 as Hospicio de San Buenaventura, renamed Hospicio de las Mercedes in 1888, and renamed to National Neuropsychiatric Hospital for Men in 1949. The last name change occurred in 1967 to honor the psychiatrist Dr. Jose Tiburcio Borda who joined the UBA Medical School faculty in 1891 and began working at Hospicio de las Mercedes shortly thereafter, staying on until his retirement in 1930.In the mid-2000s, members of the Argentine rock band, Bersuit, wore pastel pajamas, like escapees from a lunatic asylum, as a tribute to El Borda. In 2008, the Buenos Aires government announced plans to close two psychiatric hospitals, El Borda and Braulio Moyano Mental Health Hospital, replacing them with ten smaller hospitals, halfway houses, and health centres. But two years later, the Ministry of Health stated that the government would not be closing El Borda. Graffiti covers many of El Borda's walls including the phrase No al cierre ("No to closure").FacilityEl Borda is built in the shape of the letter ‘H’, and has two wings on either sides of the main hospital, separated by garden areas. The large, park-like area is enclosed behind high bars. The hospital offers mental health services and a research centre linked to the University of Buenos Aires medical school. Admissions and discharges total approximately 1,300 patients each year, most within two weeks. Over 800 other patients are long term residents. Dr. Juan Garralda is the current director.