OBJECTIVES: Adolescents present particular issues that may condition their health and life, this turns adolescents´ health into a priority. OBJECTIVES: To identify the barriers that hinder the access to health by adolescents in order to contribute to the design, orientation and formulation / reformulation of public policies. METHODS: We implemented a self-administered to 5200 secondary public school students in the northern provinces of Argentina, Jujuy, Misiones, Tucumán, Santiago del Estero, Catamarca and Chaco. On the other hand, we developed in-depth interviews to local referents (Ministries of Health, Education, Social Development, etc). Descriptive statistics techniques were then applied, together with econometric analysis and qualitative techniques of interviews analysis. RESULTS: We identified differences regarding priorities and policies oriented to the adolescent population in the six provinces. With regard to the teen gaze, 87% of students rate their health as "very good or good", only half of those reporting a health problem consulting the system. Their concerns are linked to arguments and emerging problems of their age. "Having to wait long to be attended" and "difficulty to get an appointment" are the main barriers they face when accessing to the system. CONCLUSIONS: The definition of access ceases to be necessarily linked with aspects of physical capacity or clinical care, but with the system's ability to orient the question and channel the concerns of young people with social problems related to health.