Paraguay senator rules out salary increase for doctors due to lack of funds

Senator Silvio Ovelar, president of Paraguay's Senate Finance and Budget Committee, stated that the government does not have the necessary resources to address the salary demands of medical professionals. He acknowledged the validity of their claims concerning the erosion of purchasing power but maintained that current financial constraints make it impossible to meet their requests.

"We have to be very aware that today we do not have the resources. And there is a famous Guarani saying that goes: 'Many good ideas die in the heads of the poor'," Ovelar remarked, referencing urgent budgetary priorities that remain unsettled, such as the provision and payment of debts for medicines.

While agreeing with the medical union's assessment of significant purchasing power loss in recent years, Ovelar extended this observation to society at large. "Purchasing power has fallen, not only for doctors but for all citizens." He conceded that if analyzing income disparities within public service, medical professionals have a valid point, but stressed, "You cannot give what you do not have. It does not exist today."

Ovelar emphasized that any modification to public spending must be approved by the National Congress. Looking ahead to future fiscal years, he indicated that the state might need to implement spending cuts and "tighten belts." Personally, he suggested that financing future salary increases for doctors and educators would likely necessitate raising taxes. However, he clarified that this personal view is not shared by the President or the Minister of Economy.