‘We are afraid, but we are driven by the desire for change,’ anesthesiologist says

Nearly 200 Paraguayan anesthesiologists have submitted resignations in a collective protest against what they describe as a fragmented public health system and undignified conditions for patients.

Nélida Caballero of the Paraguayan Society of Anesthesiologists said the decision followed an assembly and a unanimous vote. “After an assembly, a vote, it was unanimously decided to submit the resignations and join this struggle as a bloc of anesthesiologists,” she said.

The number of resignations grew rapidly. Caballero said almost 200 had been submitted, with 10 more arriving by courier during the morning. She also warned that Paraguay has no more than 300 anesthesiologists in total.

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After an assembly, a vote, it was unanimously decided to submit the resignations and join this struggle as a bloc of anesthesiologists.

The action reaches hospitals in the capital and across the interior, including Acosta Ñu Children’s Hospital, the Trauma Hospital, the General Hospital of Luque, the National Hospital of Itauguá, and hospitals in Itapúa, Villarrica, Coronel Oviedo, Hernandarias, Presidente Franco and Santa Rita. Specialists from the Materno Infantil Hospital of Santísima Trinidad, San Pablo and Calle’i also joined.

Caballero said the dispute goes beyond pay. Anesthesia requires discipline and essential equipment, but specialists have been patching shortages, buying supplies themselves and organizing activities to obtain what they need. “We are afraid, but we are driven by the desire for this to change,” she said, describing the resignations as a fight for better conditions for patients and their children’s future.

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We are afraid, but we are driven by the desire for this to change.