“Let the minister come out!”: Doctors strike in Paraguay demanding Health Minister's resignation

Hundreds of Paraguayan doctors, united under the National Union of Doctors (Sinamed), launched a strike on Monday, demanding the immediate resignation of Health Minister María Teresa Barán. The mobilization began with a large contingent of medical professionals traveling from across the country to the Ministry of Public Health and Social Welfare in Asunción.

Clad in white coats and carrying Paraguayan flags, the striking doctors gathered outside the ministry, their unified chant echoing: "¡Que salga la ministra!" (Let the minister come out!). However, Minister Barán had not made any public statement since the strike commenced. The lack of response from the ministry escalated the protesters' demands from a mere appearance to an outright call for her resignation.

The strike, which is planned to continue until Friday, has seen significant police presence, with 500 officers deployed to cover the march. Organizers have not ruled out the possibility of the protesters moving towards Mburuvicha Róga, the official residence of the President, although it was not on the initial schedule. The medical community is signaling a readiness for a prolonged struggle if their demands are not met.

The doctors' protest highlights deep dissatisfaction within the healthcare sector. The specific reasons for the demand for Minister Barán's resignation were not detailed in the provided text, but the scale of the mobilization and the strong rhetoric suggest significant underlying grievances regarding health policy or management.