Foreign doctors in limbo: Ten already dismissed for lacking Paraguayan nationality

The arbitrary application of Paraguay's new Civil Service Law has led to the immediate dismissal of ten foreign doctors, leaving them without salaries and jobs. This situation, which began with administrative circulars, has escalated into a significant labor and diplomatic crisis within the Paraguayan healthcare system. The National Doctors' Union (Sinamed) has raised alarms, stating that over 300 foreign professionals are now in a precarious employment situation.

According to Dr. Rossana González, president of Sinamed, these doctors had been providing essential services in public hospitals for months after successfully passing public recruitment processes. However, when they attempted to collect their salaries, the Ministry of Economy and Finance blocked the payments, citing the new law's prohibition on employing non-Paraguayan nationals. The Ministry of Health has admitted to a lack of awareness regarding the law's full implications when initially granting these contracts, a point of contention for the medical union.

This new legislation, specifically Article 12, mandates Paraguayan nationality as a minimum requirement for state positions. This has triggered a cascade of restrictive circulars affecting foreign residents and interns. The deadline for compliance, set for April 30th, is deemed "impossible" by the medical community, given that naturalization processes in Paraguay can take years and incur substantial costs. This policy not only impacts the livelihoods of dedicated medical professionals but also threatens the stability and capacity of public health services, particularly in underserved areas where many of these foreign doctors serve.

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How can it be that the Ministry of Health was unaware of the start of compliance with this law by giving them work? They admitted to us that they were unaware of this.