Mass resignation of anesthesiologists deepens public health crisis in Alto Paraná

About 20 anesthesiologists and nine department heads at Ciudad del Este Regional Hospital have resigned, worsening the already critical public health situation in Paraguay’s Alto Paraná department.

Hospital director Cristian Martínez met with department heads on September 2 to discuss the health crisis. The doctors used the meeting to submit their resignations. Surgeons and pediatric intensive-care staff had also resigned earlier in the week.

The mass resignation forms part of a labor action that followed a strike by health workers. They say the strike brought no response from the authorities. Their demands include salary increases, the provision of medicines and supplies, and other improvements to working conditions.

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We are very concerned about this situation because the department heads are the arm of the hospital.

Patients and relatives began publicly supporting the doctors at the hospital. Martínez said the department heads are “the arm of the hospital” and that the institution needs an answer from the authorities so the crisis can be addressed.

He said many professionals had been psychologically affected by the precarious conditions in which they work. “We need a response to our colleagues’ demands, above all so we can work with peace of mind,” Martínez said. The resignation letters were sent to the 10th Regional Health Directorate, headed by Federico Schrodel.

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We need a response to our colleagues’ demands, above all so we can work with peace of mind. Some colleagues have been psychologically affected by the way the institution is being managed in terms of resources.