Fifteen of 20 neonatologists resign from Trinidad Maternal and Child Hospital

Fifteen of the 20 neonatologists at Trinidad Maternal and Child Hospital submitted their resignations on Thursday, deepening a dispute between doctors and Paraguay's Health Ministry over salaries and other demands.

The National Medical Doctors' Union, Sinamed, has sought a salary adjustment for more than a month. Doctors say they have received no adjustment since 2012. After a five-day strike and four tripartite meetings that failed to produce an answer from state representatives, union members began resigning from their posts.

Health Minister María Teresa Barán proposed creating a salary scale that would equalize the pay of contracted doctors and permanent staff. The doctors' side says the proposal does not address what they are demanding. Sebastián Britez, who coordinated the neonatology department for 11 years, confirmed that 15 specialists had resigned and said he had also placed his position at the ministry's disposal.

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Today a meeting was held where a proposal was presented, but the medical union is really not satisfied with what the government is offering. The resignation takes effect from now, and I understand it is one month from when we submit these papers. By resigning, my position is automatically placed at the ministry's disposal.

“Today a meeting was held where a proposal was presented, but the medical union is really not satisfied with what the government is offering. The resignation takes effect from now, and I understand it is one month from when we submit these papers. By resigning, my position is automatically placed at the ministry's disposal,” Britez said.

The dispute comes as hospitals in the Health Ministry network also face shortages of supplies. Britez said Trinidad hospital receives newborns requiring surgery from other referral hospitals, including San Pablo and Barrio Obrero, because those facilities cannot perform the same procedures. The hospital serves not only the Trinidad neighborhood but also patients from Luque and Ñemby. He said families seek it out for emergency pediatric care, while the neonatology team handles the most critically ill newborns.

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Trinidad hospital receives not only patients from the Trinidad neighborhood, but also from Luque and Ñemby. Users themselves say, ‘I come here because I receive good care here, for example in pediatric emergencies.’ In our case, it is neonatal intensive care.