Paraguayan specialist doctors withdrew their resignations and suspended participation in the September 21 and 22 strike after reaching an agreement with the Ministry of Health, which provides for negotiations on differentiated salaries for high-complexity fields, still subject to budgetary and legislative approval.
María Teresa Barán
Pytagua coverage mentioning María Teresa Barán.
The Paraguayan government has proposed a salary adjustment and a medical pay scale based on training, specialization, seniority and responsibilities after medical representatives announced 631 resignation requests; the Health Ministry counts 270 formalized cases.
The Paraguayan government has proposed, starting in July 2027, bringing the salaries of contracted doctors in line with those of appointed doctors and paying for holidays worked, but Sinamed considers the offer insufficient and will decide on a new strike at an assembly.
Sinamed will decide Thursday, September 3, whether to call a new national strike after a five-day stoppage, amid dissatisfaction over salaries, working conditions and the supply of medicines and medical supplies.
Paraguay’s 2027 General National Budget bill provides for spending of G. 166.322 trillion, an 11.2% increase and a deficit of up to 3.9% of GDP, but excludes the pay increase demanded by striking doctors, while five babies were transferred after a flea infestation in a neonatal unit in Ciudad del Este.
At least 197 specialist doctors formally submitted resignations in Paraguay after a five-day strike, as patients report shortages of medicines and supplies; the government attributes rejection of a across-the-board raise to fiscal constraints and is considering measures to fill vacancies, regularize 2,390 contracted workers and include US$760 million for medicines and supplies in the 2027 budget proposal, which has not yet been approved. University lecturers are also threatening mobilization, while Eduardo Nakayama proposes eliminating state-paid private insurance to direct US$100 million to US$120 million annually to public health without shifting pressure to the Social Security Institute (IPS), which is facing its own crisis.
A doctors’ strike in Paraguay enters its fifth day with 39 pediatric surgeons threatening to resign from Monday, while the government proposes a phased 76% increase over 14 months and lawmakers disagree over funding sources.
Paraguay’s national doctors’ strike suspended nonurgent consultations and surgeries for a second day as the National Medical Union demands pay increases, job stability and better conditions, while the government and Congress seek negotiations amid budget constraints.
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The Paraguayan Senate approved in committee a $286 million loan for an integration corridor, while opposition senators accused the Ministry of Public Works of corruption for alleged overpricing in tenders, leading to the summons of Minister Claudia Centurión to provide explanations.
The Finance Committee of the Paraguayan Senate halted a project that would redirect communication funds to healthcare and postponed for 15 days the analysis of a budget increase to pay off the sector's debts.
President Santiago Peña inaugurated a new oncology block at the Regional Hospital of Caazapá and pledged to decentralize public health, but the promise contrasts with ongoing drug shortages and poor infrastructure.