Paraguayan farmer leader slams Peña's report, citing health and agricultural crises

Ramón Benítez, a leader of the Misiones Campesina Organization (OCM), has sharply criticized President Santiago Peña's recent management report. Benítez asserts that the reality faced by Paraguay's most vulnerable citizens is far from the advancements announced, particularly in the crucial areas of healthcare and agricultural production.

In healthcare, Benítez pointed out that while some basic medications like ibuprofen and paracetamol are available in public hospitals, essential drugs for chronic conditions are frequently absent. This forces patients to bear the significant cost of purchasing these medications themselves. He also noted that even newly inaugurated health facilities often offer only basic diagnostic services, requiring patients to travel to private clinics or hospitals in other cities for more complex tests, imposing a heavy financial burden on families.

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The families of the sick spend everything they have to access these studies. So, where is the improvement in the health system?

"The families of the sick spend everything they have to access these studies. So, where is the improvement in the health system?" Benítez questioned. He added that the lack of adequate medical care compels many low-income individuals to resort to traditional herbal remedies, a practice he described as a return to ancient customs due to the inability to afford proper medical treatment.

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Without mobilizations, they would never help us.

Regarding the agricultural sector, Benítez argued that its growth primarily benefits large-scale producers who receive state backing for soybean and beef exports. Small farmers, however, struggle to obtain government assistance. He cited the aid provided by the Yacyretá Binational Entity (EBY) as an example, stating that campesinos must constantly lobby and even protest, including blocking roads, to receive support. "Without mobilizations, they would never help us," he stated.

Benítez concluded that President Peña's claims do not align with the daily reality of many Paraguayans. "Every day we are worse, everything is expensive, and there is no money circulating, and this government, with its economic system, is significantly affecting the Paraguayan population," he said.

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Every day we are worse, everything is expensive, and there is no money circulating, and this government, with its economic system, is significantly affecting the Paraguayan population.