[REVISION HISTORY]

Paraguay healthcare crisis deepens as doctors mass resign

Updated 36 times since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

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2026-09-23 01:01 UTC → 2026-09-23 14:26 UTC · added ~~removed~~

The healthcare crisis in Paraguay has intensified as medical professionals face extreme physical and emotional exhaustion, compounded by critical shortages of basic supplies. Mass resignations have reached a critical level, with approximately 500 specialists having left the Ministry of Health, including a severe shortage in pediatric care and intensive care units. Negotiations between the government and the National Union of Doctors (Sinamed) remain deadlocked. The government has proposed a salary structure based on academic training and seniority, offering monthly increases between 400,000 and 3,000,000 guaraníes. Sinamed has rejected this, demanding a linear increase of 3,000,000 guaraníes per contract. While the Senate has attempted to mediate, operational conditions have reportedly deteriorated. In San Lorenzo, reports have emerged of “deplorable conditions” at the Hospital Calle’i pediatric emergency area, where a single nurse was reportedly managing approximately 60 patients during a night shift, alongside allegations of mold and broken furniture. Following the scheduled strike period, large-scale demonstrations were held in Asunción in front of the Ministry of Public Health and Social Welfare. Organized by the National Federation of Health Workers (FNTS) and 28 other organizations, the mobilization included dentists, biochemists, nurses, and doctors. Approximately 49,000 health professionals participated in the peaceful demonstration. Protesters are demanding a 50% salary readjustment—noting many have not seen increases in 14 years—the formal implementation of a ‘sanitary career’ for professional stability, and the establishment of an eight-hour workday to improve service organization. Additional demands have emerged from specific sectors, including speech therapists (Sinfop) protesting for higher base salaries and a reduction in weekly workloads from 30 hours to 15 hours. Furthermore, a group of 624 nurses is seeking permanent appointments following a 2023 competition to end precarious contractual status and secure labor stability.

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