Moldy walls, toilets without handles, dampness in several areas, broken chairs, and visible cracks are the daily scene faced by patients and staff at the Caacupé Regional Hospital. The nauseating odor from the sewage system makes staying there an undignified experience for those seeking medical care.
In the inpatient area, the situation is even more concerning: the walls are unpainted, with cracks and clear signs of years of neglect. Patients remain in deteriorated rooms, in conditions that are completely far from a dignified and safe health service.
On January 9, 2025, after a fire in an inpatient room caused by a short circuit, President Santiago Peña and Health Minister María Teresa Barán visited the hospital and announced a “comprehensive improvement” of the facility. However, more than a year later, nothing has been accomplished. State intervention was limited to minimal repairs after the incident, without addressing the serious structural problems publicly exposed by the fire.
The situation highlights the lack of response from national authorities to one of the most important healthcare centers in the Cordillera department. While official speeches talk about strengthening public health, patients continue to endure decaying infrastructure, lack of maintenance, and conditions that reflect the historical abandonment of the health system.
The director of the Third Health Region of Cordillera, Dr. Luis Gómez, explained that the hospital's operation depends on funds managed by the Local Health Council, resources that are currently insufficient to cover all needs. “The hospital receives G. 45 million per quarter. With that, we do repairs, equipment maintenance, ambulances, and basic purchases, but often it is not enough,” he said. He detailed that there are three pending transfers: two from last year and one from March 2026, which further limits the possibility of carrying out repair and maintenance work on the infrastructure.
In addition to the visible deterioration of the facilities, the hospital faces a worrying shortage of essential medicines, such as amlodipine, which has been unavailable for about a month. Patients with chronic diseases, especially hypertensive patients, report that they need to go to other health units or pay for the drug themselves, amid repeated requests for replenishment that are not met.