Ministry of Health and IPS expand partnership to share infrastructure and specialists in critical regions, with a non-monetary compensation mechanism and autonomy for pharmacies and laboratories.
Ministerio de Salud Pública y Bienestar Social
Ministerio encargado de la salud pública en Paraguay.
In the early hours of May 18, the Ministry of Childhood and Adolescence (MINNA) coordinated an inter-institutional operation that removed 42 indigenous children and adolescents from the streets of Ciudad del Este, in the department of Alto Paraná. Three minors were without adult reference; a repeat offender woman and her seven children were taken to the MINNA Open Shelter Refuge by court order. The others underwent medical examinations and were sent back to their communities of origin in Guairá, Caazapá, and Alto Paraná.
Authorities from the Ministry of Public Health and Social Welfare (MSPBS) and the Social Security Institute (IPS) met to strengthen inter-institutional cooperation and expand access to health services, with successful examples in Itapúa and Ayolas. The meeting also addressed challenges such as the shortage of specialized professionals and the need to plan new hospitals under a complementary model.
The Government of Paraguay completed Operation Justice Umbral 2.5, transferring 361 women deprived of liberty to the Emboscada Penitentiary Complex (COMPLE), definitively eliminating mixed prisons in the country. The Ministry of Public Health and Social Welfare mobilized 30 professionals and ambulances to ensure medical care throughout the process.
The Municipal Police Surveillance Directorate forwarded 2,602 infraction reports to the Misdemeanor Courts, aiming to combat vector breeding sites and trash accumulation. The measure seeks to reduce diseases such as dengue and chikungunya.
The Ministry of Public Health and Social Welfare (MSPBS) rescheduled the publication of the internal job regularization exam scores to June 2, 2026, after receiving 3,910 complaints about the scoring. Only 55% of the appeals have been analyzed so far.
Paraguay's Ministry of Health has vaccinated more than 420,000 children aged 1 to 5 against measles and rubella, reaching 90% of the national target. While Ñeembucú and Paraguarí achieved 100% coverage, the departments of Central, Asunción and Alto Paraná register the lowest rates, between 83% and 85%, threatening herd immunity. The campaign ends on May 29.
The Hospital General de Itapúa provides free access to Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP), a method that reduces the risk of contracting HIV through sexual contact by up to 99%. The initiative is part of a national campaign by the Ministry of Public Health and Social Welfare.
On World Hypertension Day, the Ministry of Public Health and Social Welfare of Paraguay warns that the condition already affects 38.6% of the population and is the leading preventable cause of premature death. This year's campaign emphasizes periodic measurement as an essential tool for early detection, given the high rate of underdiagnosis worldwide.
From May 18 to 25, Thyroid Week 2026 offers free consultations, ultrasounds, and biopsies at 20 hospitals in Paraguay. The initiative, by the Paraguayan Society of Endocrinology and Metabolism (SPEM) in partnership with the Ministry of Health, the Hospital de Clínicas, and the IPS, follows a session in Pedro Juan Caballero where 7 suspected cancer cases were identified among 19 procedures.
The IX Health Region – Paraguarí released its April 2026 balance with 63,412 consultations, 5,904 imaging exams, and 266 surgeries, reinforcing the decentralization of care.
The Hospital Nacional de Itauguá (HNI) recorded 28,027 medical consultations, more than 17,000 imaging exams, and 1,000 high-complexity surgeries in April 2026, reinforcing its role as a reference in Paraguay's public health network.
The National Vaccination Drive against measles and rubella has achieved 88% coverage, with 420,646 children vaccinated. The goal is to exceed 95% by May 29.