LatinNews Daily - 04 September 2026

*Paraguay’s government led by President Santiago Peña has proposed a new salary system for public sector doctors that takes into account length of service, workload, specialised training, and coverage of critical services. The proposal calls for the current medical seniority pay scale that began in 2022 for tenured doctors to be applied to those employed on contract. In a statement, the health and social wellbeing ministry (MSPBS) stated this should ensure “a more equitable, orderly, and sustainable pay structure”. The system proposes a differentiated salary structure based on seniority and work schedules of 12, 24, and 36 hours per week, with amounts increasing progressively according to years of service and hours worked. According to the proposal presented, 10,626 physicians would receive monthly increases ranging from G$400,000 (US$67) to G$3m. The proposal also provides specific compensation for specialists, with a monthly supplement of G$500,000 for specialist physicians who have completed residency. It also proposes a payment of G$1m per holiday worked for those working on-call shifts or performing essential duties. The salary adjustments based on the pay scale and the supplement for specialists are scheduled for July 2027, while the extra pay for those working holidays will be implemented as of January. “We have a pay scale for tenured staff, and we’re going to apply that same pay scale to contract physicians, thereby eliminating discrimination between contract and tenured staff,” explained the head of the MSPBS, María Teresa Barán. The proposal comes after over a week of protests and strikes from doctors and widespread resignations amid calls for salary increases and better working conditions. Early today (4 September), Paraguay’s doctors’ union (Sinamed) called for another national strike from 21-22 September, indicating dissatisfaction with the government’s proposal.

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