Peña's health report faces reality check amid patient complaints

President Santiago Peña touted a "Healthy Paraguay" driven by technology and new ambulances in his 2026 management report. However, the reality on the ground reveals a public health system still plagued by precarious conditions for patients nationwide.

During a joint session of the National Congress, Peña delivered his annual report. The event followed controversy as he first presented details to the ruling party's board before addressing the legislature, as constitutionally mandated. His speech focused on public health, a sector criticized for its management under Minister María Teresa Barán. The report's optimistic figures on investment and modernization contrasted sharply with ongoing patient complaints about a lack of supplies, lengthy waits, and the struggle to secure intensive care unit (ICU) beds.

The administration announced an investment exceeding US$500 million, emphasizing unprecedented renovation with new hospitals, ambulances, night clinics, and digitalization reaching 79% of facilities. Official indicators suggest improvements, such as an increase of 200 ICU beds, bringing the total to 663 operational beds, and over 1.5 million nighttime consultations aimed at easing pressure on emergency services.

Yet, the reality in hospital corridors tells a different story. Patients at the Regional Hospital of Ciudad del Este await treatment and medication, while the Neonatology room at the San Estanislao District Hospital has been closed for 10 months, awaiting rehabilitation. President Peña himself acknowledged the challenges, stating frankly, "In health, I want to speak to you with the same frankness with which I always speak: it is our great pending matter. I am the first to say it, and as long as there is a Paraguayan who is not attended to in their health, I will feel unsatisfied. Until health reaches everyone, it will be a pain for me." He asserted, however, that his government is working to change these conditions.

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In health, I want to speak to you with the same frankness with which I always speak: it is our great pending matter. I am the first to say it, and as long as there is a Paraguayan who is not attended to in their health, I will feel unsatisfied. Until health reaches everyone, it will be a pain for me.