ASUNCIÓN, PARAGUAY – On July 15, 2025, the Paraguayan Ministry of Public Health (MSP) officially announced that there would be no salary increase for doctors in 2026, in accordance with the government's public sector wage freeze guidelines. This decision was communicated during a meeting between the Minister of Health, María Teresa Barán, and representatives of the National Union of Doctors (Sinamed), with the medical community expressing deep disappointment.
The medical community emphasized that there has been no salary increase since 2012, asserting that the 13-year wage freeze has led to a real purchasing power decrease of approximately 58% for doctors. Dr. Rossana González of Sinamed expressed concern, stating, "Despite inflation and rising living costs, doctors' salaries have remained stagnant." She warned that this decision could demoralize medical personnel and negatively impact the quality of healthcare services.
Currently, the average monthly salary for doctors in Paraguayan public hospitals is known to be around 4 million Guaraní (approximately 700,000 KRW) to 6 million Guaraní (approximately 1,000,000 KRW). This is significantly lower compared to neighboring countries and forces doctors to work in multiple hospitals or seek other side jobs to make ends meet. It is also pointed out that residents and new doctors face particularly poor conditions, which could exacerbate the exodus of young doctors.
The medical community strongly criticized the government, arguing that it is unfair to freeze wages exclusively in the healthcare sector while implementing salary increases in other public sectors. Indeed, it is known that some public servant categories, such as police officers and military personnel, have received salary increases in recent years, further fueling the medical community's dissatisfaction. Dr. González characterized this as "discriminatory treatment against medical professionals responsible for the nation's health," and criticized it as reflecting the government's indifference to the entire healthcare system.
Despite the Ministry of Health's announcement, Sinamed and other medical organizations stated that they would continue their struggle for salary increases and other improvements in working conditions. Dr. González declared, "We will make our voices heard through various means until our demands are met," hinting that a general strike in the future is not ruled out. The medical community warned that if poor working conditions are not improved, the outflow of skilled medical personnel to other countries will accelerate, ultimately posing a serious threat to the health rights of all Paraguayan citizens.
This conflict between the government and the medical community has once again brought to the surface the chronic problems of Paraguay's public healthcare system. It is being pointed out that fair treatment and support for medical personnel are essential for providing stable healthcare services, and attention is now focused on the government's future response and the medical community's actions.
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