Doctors at Paraguay’s National Hospital maintain threat of mass resignations

More than 100 doctors at Paraguay’s National Hospital are holding to their decision to resign unless the Health Ministry responds to demands raised by medical unions. The doctors say authorities have failed to address their requests.

The group includes 46 doctors from neonatal intensive care and 25 from pediatric intensive care. Thirty anesthesiologists and 10 pediatric surgeons have also submitted their resignations, while doctors in other departments have placed their positions at the ministry’s disposal.

Hospital representatives warn that the health system could be overwhelmed if the resignations go ahead. They say the loss of specialists would directly threaten patient care.

“Every day we go out to show how many doctors will be missing if Health Minister María Teresa Barán does not take action,” doctor Mauricio Ortiz Alvarez said. “More than 100 colleagues are distributed across different specialties, and if this number of doctors resigns, patients’ health will be compromised.”

Representatives of the Health Ministry have been meeting with medical union leaders, but the discussions have not progressed.

“

Every day we go out to show how many doctors will be missing if Health Minister María Teresa Barán does not take action. More than 100 colleagues are distributed across different specialties, and if this number of doctors resigns, patients’ health will be compromised.