Desperate Patients

The doctors’ strike, which the column says will soon be repeated, exposed the public health system’s failures with unusual force. Hospitals lack medicines, equipment sits broken, patients express their helplessness, and doctors carry heavy workloads while receiving the same salary for more than a decade. The state also owes large sums to pharmaceutical companies. At the Social Security Institute, or IPS, the writer adds, the continued looting of assets harms insured patients.

While doctors were being beaten by police in Ciudad del Este, President Santiago Peña traveled to Encarnación to praise a rally, the column says. After several days of silence, Peña promised “More medicines, better working conditions and better infrastructure for our public health system. Today we are taking an important step, more money, and we will continue working without rest on solutions so that every Paraguayan, wherever they are, receives a complete, dignified and more humane health service. That is our commitment to the Paraguayan people.”

The writer calls Peña’s government one of promises that are never fulfilled, saying such promises appear when officials need to calm widespread discontent. The column rejects the claim that every Paraguayan will receive complete and dignified care. It also criticizes the governor of Concepción, who said doctors work little, earn well and had no reason to strike. The governor is herself a doctor, the writer notes, and enjoys strong financial security.

“

More medicines, better working conditions and better infrastructure for our public health system. Today we are taking an important step, more money, and we will continue working without rest on solutions so that every Paraguayan, wherever they are, receives a complete, dignified and more humane health service. That is our commitment to the Paraguayan people.

The argument that medicine is an apostolate also comes under fire. Even apostles have to eat, the writer says. A doctor can save or improve lives in minutes or hours, so the question of what counts as working little cannot be dismissed.

The government says there is no money. But Sen. Gustavo Leite, whom the column describes as an energetic supporter of the ruling movement, argues that reducing waste could save or recover $400 million for health care. The possible sources include fuel, technology and equipment rentals, nonessential operating costs, institutional buildings and leases, wholesale purchases of medicines and supplies, travel allowances, tickets, ceremonies, food, consulting, advertising, insurance and training. The column says Leite’s study challenges the health minister, economy minister and congressional leader, all of whom insist there is neither money nor a source from which to obtain it.

“

There is no money.