Peña Grants Health Insurance to Paraguay's Overseas Trade Attachés

President Santiago Peña has signed a decree allowing Paraguay's trade attachés serving abroad to receive prepaid medical and health coverage appropriate to the countries where they work.

The decree, dated September 7, modifies and expands Article 12 of a 2010 regulation governing commercial attachés at Paraguayan embassies and consulates. The Industry and Commerce Ministry, led by Marco Riquelme, requested the change and will be responsible for contracting and financing the coverage.

The decree also says trade attachés may receive operating funds, subject to budget availability, for travel, events, promotions, and other expenses. The ministry will assign those funds by resolution and set the rules for accounting, administrative closure, and auditing.

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According to budget availability, trade attachés serving on official missions abroad may receive coverage for prepaid medical services and health care appropriate to the country where they perform their duties.

The health coverage provision remains conditional on legal authorization and approved budget credits under the applicable national budget law. The decree says coverage is appropriate because of the particular conditions involved in carrying out official duties abroad and is intended to support the continuous performance of those duties.

The decision comes as Paraguay faces a public-health crisis following mass resignations by doctors from the public system after a nationwide strike at the end of August.

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It is appropriate to provide for the possibility that trade attachés may have coverage for prepaid medical services and health care suited to the conditions of the country where they provide services, in order to contribute to the proper and continuous performance of the duties entrusted to them.