Vice Minister of Health experiences critical moment in public hospital: "We must polish protocols"

Vice Minister of Health Saúl Recalde shared a deeply personal and critical account of his experience at the San Pablo Maternal and Child Hospital, highlighting significant shortcomings within Paraguay's public healthcare system. Recalde, who intentionally did not reveal his identity to receive standard care, recounted how his pregnant wife, experiencing persistent bleeding, faced delays and a lack of empathy from hospital staff. Despite his position as a leader in the Ministry of Public Health, Recalde found himself navigating bureaucratic hurdles and protocol failures that endangered his wife's health. He described a particularly distressing encounter with a resident doctor who refused to consider his medical expertise and ultimately expelled him from the examination room. This firsthand experience has led Recalde to call for urgent improvements in medical training and emergency care protocols, stressing that the focus should be on enhancing the system rather than solely on punitive measures. His candid testimony serves as a stark reminder, even to those within the system, of the daily challenges faced by ordinary citizens seeking care in public health facilities across Paraguay. The incident underscores a critical need for systemic reform to ensure that all patients receive timely, empathetic, and effective medical attention, regardless of their background or the hospital's resources.

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I had to return to Asunción and, not to leave her alone, she came with me. My wife bled the whole way from Santaní, an hour and a half trip. My only concern was to know if my baby was still alive.