Paraguay's healthcare system is facing a deep crisis in 2026, with so-called "out-of-pocket expenses" financially suffocating thousands of families who depend on public hospitals and the Social Security Institute (IPS). Despite government promises of investment in new hospital infrastructure, the reality in waiting rooms is one of chronic shortages of medicines and basic supplies, turning the constitutional right to health into an inaccessible privilege for those without resources.
Dramatic cases illustrate the magnitude of the problem. Ana Laura Mendoza, a patient with arthritis, reported the lack of Adalimumab, a vital injectable biologic medication for her treatment, whose cost of 29.5 million guaranis is unattainable for her reality. Similar situations are repeated throughout the country, where families are forced to organize "solidarity chicken barbecues" – community fundraising events – or take on unpayable debts to cover everything from MRIs to cancer drugs.
Preliminary estimates from patient associations indicate that a family with a member suffering from a chronic illness or hospitalized can spend between 1.5 million and 5 million guaranis per month on medicines and supplies not provided by the public system. These figures skyrocket to tens of millions when high-cost drugs are involved. This outlay represents an alarming portion of the country's current minimum wage, set at 3,044,000 guaranis, condemning low-income families to financial ruin in the face of any health emergency.
The crisis has gained international attention, being the subject of reports by outlets like the BBC, which highlighted how the lack of adequate coverage forces citizens to sell precious belongings or rely on community solidarity. The situation, far from improving, is worsening, keeping Paraguay among the countries that invest the least in effectively guaranteeing the right to health, as pointed out by the Latin American Association of Social Medicine (ALAMES).