The Paraguayan government authorized the creation of 11,100 new permanent positions at the Ministry of Public Health and Social Welfare, a measure announced as historic to reduce labor precarity in the sector. The authorization came from the National Economic Team (EEN), a body linked to the Presidency of the Republic.
Of the total new positions, 9,755 are for healthcare professionals, including doctors, dentists, biochemists, nurses, technicians, and assistants. Another 1,345 positions are for administrative staff, marking the first time this group has been included in a mass regularization process. The positions will be filled based on lists of those approved in an internal competitive examination.
These new positions add to 2,130 appointments already made previously through the same process, totaling 13,230 workers regularized since the initiative began. Health Minister María Teresa Barán stated that the measure reflects recognition of the effort and vocation of professionals who sustain the country's health services daily.
The announcement comes just days before the start of a national doctors' strike scheduled for next Monday. The National Union of Doctors (Sinamed) confirmed the work stoppage from August 24 to 28 after the government failed to present a concrete proposal in tripartite meetings. Doctors have long demanded salary adjustments, claiming their purchasing power has drastically decreased since 2012.
The president of the Paraguayan Medical Circle, Osvaldo Paniagua, described the government's stance as "insensitive" and stated that the strike's impact will affect approximately 40,000 outpatient consultations and between 300 to 400 scheduled surgeries per day. Essential services such as emergencies, ICUs, dialysis, and oncology will be maintained.