Health crisis: Itapúa General Hospital service chiefs offer to resign

Thirteen department chiefs at Itapúa General Hospital have put their positions at the government’s disposal, deepening a dispute between medical workers and Paraguay’s national government. The specialists say negotiations lack “seriousness” and are demanding higher salaries, better working conditions, adequate supplies and payment for holidays they worked.

The hospital is the main referral center in southern Paraguay. The doctors who offered to resign lead services ranging from pediatrics, neonatal therapy and pediatric intensive care to emergency medicine, surgery, anesthesiology, gynecology and obstetrics.

Hospital director Juan María Martínez said doctors returned to work Monday after a strike the previous week. Outpatient care suffered the biggest disruption, forcing the hospital to reschedule appointments. Surgeries planned for the strike week also had to be rearranged, while some doctors continued a limited-work protest after negotiations with the government failed to produce an agreement.

The greatest concern is the possible departure of anesthesiologists, Martínez said, warning that this could put the health system under severe pressure. He said the resignations would not immediately interrupt care, but would weaken the hospital’s administrative operations. Patients said services had been delayed, while some criticized their inability to obtain appointments during the strike. Others expressed support for the doctors’ demands.

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