Crisis in Paraguay’s health sector: Government proposes career plan in the face of threats of mass resignations
The Government of Paraguay has made an urgent call to the public sector medical union to resume dialogue and focus on the creation of a health career plan, following a week marked by strike days and the recent threat of mass resignations by health professionals.
The Minister of Health, María Teresa Barán, together with the heads of Economy and the Civil Cabinet, immediately ruled out the possibility of a direct salary increase, as requested by the National Union of Doctors (Sinamed), who were demanding an adjustment of approximately 508 dollars per contract. Instead, the Executive is opting for a meritocracy structure.
We had an approach to work on the healthcare career path and pay based on academic degree, which I believe is what doctors deserve.
María Teresa Barán, Minister of Health
Budget proposal and union demands
As part of its strategy, the Ministry of Economy announced that it will present a proposal to Congress to increase health sector spending by 52% by the year 2027. This increase, which would raise the budget from 500 to 760 million dollars, seeks to strengthen management, cover debts, and ensure the supply of essential medicines and supplies.
However, tension persists in hospital centers. At the Itauguá Hospital, director Miguel Ferreira and nearly a hundred medical chiefs have made their positions available, arguing that the current system is overwhelmed by the high demand for patients. According to the union, the requests include:
- Salary readjustment, the last increase of which dates back to 2012.
- Guarantee of supply of inputs and medications.
- Definitive appointment for some 9,000 physicians who currently operate under temporary contracts.
- Improvements in general working conditions.
Although the National Medical Union has warned of mass resignations, the Minister of Health clarified that, so far, the institution has only formally received 61 resignations. The doctors who have made their positions available will continue to perform their duties for a period of 30 days, as stipulated by administrative processes, while the healthcare system faces the warning of a possible critical shortage of specialists in the country.
