The Paraguayan government reaches an agreement with Sinamed for a G. 2 million increase and the doctors' strike cools off

The Government and the National Doctors’ Union reached an understanding that defuses, at least provisionally, the national strike that threatened to affect public hospitals in Paraguay, according to ABC Color.

According to that outlet, the agreement includes a salary adjustment of G. 2,000,000 per employment relationship for all professionals in the country, without exception. The proposal will be taken immediately to a general assembly of the union, where a vote will be held on whether to formally lift the strike called for the coming days.

ABC Color reported that the negotiation made it possible to resolve the four central points of the union’s demands. In addition to the increase, the general secretary of Sinamed, Rossana González, confirmed that the target for labor formalization was expanded: from 490 vacancies initially planned for appointments this year, it rose to a quota of 2,300 doctors who will join the permanent staff. Another 1,500 positions projected for the next period would be added to that.

Still according to ABC Color, the understanding also includes the hiring of more staff, payment for work on public holidays and a commitment to ensure basic supplies and medicines in critical areas of the public system.

The announcement was led by the chief of staff, Javier Giménez, while the minister of Health, Isaías Fretes, presented the outcome as an advance for the sector. From Sinamed, González said the union will seek to monitor compliance with what was agreed together with the public.

Sources

• ABC Color

About this note. Written by El Notero with assistance from artificial intelligence, based on what was published by the cited outlet. El Notero did not conduct its own reporting on this event.