Construction to renovate the neonatal and delivery rooms at the Barrio Obrero General Hospital in Asunción, Paraguay, which began in September 2024, has still not been completed nearly 10 months later, leading to severe problems. Despite promises of completion in May of this year, the work continues to be delayed. The National Medical Union (Sinamed) has expressed concern, citing staff shortages and poor planning as the main reasons.
According to complaints from medical staff, patients are currently giving birth in temporary spaces that lack proper privacy or sanitation, with some even having to "give birth on staircases or in hospital corridors." This is a serious violation of infection control protocols and poses a significant threat to patients' health and safety.
Dr. Rosanna González emphasized the importance of prioritizing the construction, stating, "This country must take health seriously. Impromptu responses won't do." She criticized that despite the urgent need for repairs due to the risk of roof collapse caused by termites, construction has been intermittent, sometimes with no workers to be found. These delays have led to a reduction in available beds, causing overcrowding with patients spilling into hospital corridors, and creating risks for surgical and medical patients.
Recently, the hospital again became the subject of public criticism when an advanced life support ambulance, introduced through Itaipu Binacional, broke down after transporting a patient. Hospital director Adán Godoy explained that the ambulance's malfunction was due to an electronic issue and that it would be serviced and restarted.
Itaipu Binacional has played a crucial role in improving Paraguay's healthcare infrastructure, supporting projects to strengthen telemedicine services and enhance hospital connectivity. It has also consistently contributed to the health sector, recently assisting with the construction of general hospitals in Concepción and Curuguaty, totaling $41 million.
Paraguay's healthcare system faces chronic problems. Fragmentation of the system, insufficient geographical access, and low public health expenditure—less than 2% of the GDP—result in severe imbalances. More than 70% of the population lacks health insurance and relies mostly on the Ministry of Public Health and Social Welfare.
Rural areas, in particular, suffer from even poorer access to healthcare services due to inadequate road networks and a shortage of medical personnel. In this situation, the delayed construction at Barrio Obrero Hospital clearly demonstrates the vulnerability of Paraguay's public healthcare system, necessitating an immediate and systematic response from the government and relevant institutions.
International cooperation agencies like the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) are also working to strengthen primary healthcare facilities and alleviate hospital overcrowding in Paraguay by constructing and renovating health centers. However, long-term investment and efficient resource allocation are urgently needed for overall healthcare infrastructure improvement.
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