Isaías Fretes assumes role as Paraguay's Minister of Public Health

Isaías Fretes has officially assumed office as the new Minister of Public Health and Social Welfare in Paraguay, following a swearing-in ceremony led by President Santiago Peña. Fretes succeeds María Teresa Barán.

Addressing the recent agreement to provide a salary adjustment of 2 million Guaraníes for over 12,000 Ministry-dependent doctors, Fretes stated that the necessary funds are already accounted for in the institutional budget and will not impact other sanitary areas.

Key priorities for the new administration include a planned investment of approximately US$ 200 million in medications for the National Cancer Institute (INCAN) and strengthening the country's 1,000 Family Health Units (USF). Fretes emphasized a shift toward preventive medicine and pledged to increase transparency and oversight in public procurement to prevent theft and ensure medications reach patients. Additionally, he expressed a goal to improve administrative efficiency, aiming to double the savings achieved by the previous administration.