Medical 'Scam' in Paraguay: Fears of 'Doctors of the Category of Hernán Rivas'

The National Academy of Medicine in Paraguay stands firm in its sharp critique of the excessive number of medical schools operating across the nation, lamenting the scant oversight from bodies like Aneaes and Cones. Dr. Alfredo Boccia, a prominent member and political analyst, asserts that Paraguay, given its population, should only host three to four medical programs, not the current 46.

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the 'fundamental issue' is the existence of 46 medical science programs in Paraguay.

Dr. Boccia points to a deeply troubling trend: the medical education sector has become an overly lucrative business, often intertwined with political figures who seek to establish their own faculties. He even suggests a disturbing link to laundered drug money, particularly in border areas like Pedro Juan Caballero. This business model, he argues, inevitably leads to a drastic reduction in educational quality, with insufficient specialized faculty and inadequate practical training facilities.

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But this has become a too profitable business, which links politicians. Every deputy, in every department wants to have his own faculty. It is even linked to narco-laundering money, as happens on the border with Pedro Juan Caballero.

The issue is further compounded by the influx of Brazilian students. While some argue these students will return to Brazil to practice, Dr. Boccia refutes this, citing Brazil's 'Revalida' exam designed to filter out poorly trained doctors. The low pass rate for Paraguayan graduates—between 1% and 14%—means many cannot practice in Brazil, except in remote areas through programs like 'Mais Médicos.'

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The problem is that they tell us that it doesn't matter if there is poor quality, if all the students are Brazilians who are going to practice in their country. But it's not like that. Because there is the Revalida exam, which was precisely created in Brazil to protect themselves from the quantity of doctors we were sending them 10 years ago, poorly trained.

Consequently, these doctors often return to Paraguay, where they can practice without further examination or rigorous control. This situation results in an estimated 300 Brazilian doctors practicing in Paraguay, often in essential services like Family Health Units and emergency rooms, all without adequate supervision. This influx raises serious questions about the quality of healthcare being provided and the integrity of medical licensing in Paraguay.

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That people who bounce back, cannot practice medicine in Brazil, except in a marginal program called Mais Médicos, which is reserved for remote regions, the Amazon, certain favelas, places where nobody wants to go.