The National Medical Association (Sinamed) will decide Thursday, September 3, whether to call a new national strike in Paraguay’s public health system. The extraordinary assembly is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. at the former Metropolitan Seminary in Asunción, following a five-day stoppage held last week.
Sinamed Secretary-General Rossana González said doctors remain dissatisfied with the government’s responses to demands for salary increases, better working conditions and regular supplies of medicines and medical supplies. “We will remain firm in our demands,” she said. The association wants an official proposal, as characterized by the union, with documents, a timetable and clear implementation rules.
The government has not accepted a general salary increase for now. Economy and Finance Minister Óscar Lovera said that format “is not viable” for the state and advocated a medical career structure based on entry, advancement, seniority, specialization and merit. The proposal would have to be negotiated with unions, approved by Congress and accompanied by a budget allocation.
Lovera presented the 2027 General National Budget bill, which provides ₲18.2 trillion for health care. Another ₲6.3 trillion would be allocated to the system’s financial commitments, and ₲1.7 trillion to ensure the continuous supply of essential medicines and medical supplies. The executive branch also announced the regularization of nearly 2,400 professionals, with the goal of regularizing 50% of them by the end of this year and the beginning of 2027. Sinamed considers the plan for just over 2,000 medical hires or appointments scheduled for 2026 insufficient and says the system would need about 9,000 additional professionals.
The union also wants details on the approximately US$760 million announced for medicines, medical supplies and payments to suppliers. González demanded a definitive response on double pay for worked holidays and criticized the outsourcing of services, which could force patients to travel to undergo tests.
More than 400 specialists in fields including surgery, pediatric intensive care, anesthesiology and neurology have submitted resignations. Possible new resignations at the National Cancer Institute (Incan) have also been reported. Under the budget bill, the institute’s funding would increase from US$111 million in 2026 to US$195 million in 2027.
The crisis reached the Chamber of Deputies. The opposition questioned the construction of hospitals without guarantees of doctors, equipment, medicines and medical supplies. Colorado lawmaker and deputy Alejandro Aguilera advocated more than US$700 million in hospital investments, the purchase of more than 200 ambulances and an increase in funding for medicines from ₲1.3 trillion in 2023 to ₲2.8 trillion currently.
Presidential pre-candidate Arnoldo Wiens, of Colorado Añetete, called for Health Minister María Teresa Barán to leave office, holding her responsible for the lack of a concrete solution. Barán acknowledged persistent problems with infrastructure, human resources and supplies. Thursday’s assembly will analyze the union’s next steps and possible forceful measures, including a possible new national strike.