The Neonatology service at the Central Hospital of the Social Security Institute (IPS) is facing a severe crisis due to mass resignations that threaten the continuity of care at the country's largest maternity ward. During a tense session of the IPS Board of Directors, it was revealed that nearly 25 professionals left the sector in the past month, worsening a trend of doctors and nurses migrating to countries such as Germany, Italy, and Australia in search of better working conditions and salaries.
The Neonatology service handles around 500 births per month and is essential to the Paraguayan health system, as it cannot turn away patients. However, the workload and the shortage of specialized staff have made the situation desperate, according to those responsible for the sector. Additionally, there is a technical limitation in the country for the proper management of neonatal patients, who require highly specialized care.
To try to contain the crisis, the IPS president suggested opening public calls for foreign doctors, aiming to fill the currently vacant positions. He emphasized that the volume of work and the fragility of patients make it impossible for beds to remain without qualified professionals to attend to them.
The IPS Nursing Directorate pointed out that the current salary, around 2,800,000 guaraníes, contributes to the demotivation and departure of staff. The Board of Directors decided to implement immediate measures to address the problem, recognizing the importance of the Neonatology service as a pillar of the health system, but warned that without structural incentives and more efficient management, the capacity to respond to the most vulnerable patients will continue to be threatened.