ASUNCIÓN, Paraguay – On World Health Day yesterday, a protest was held in front of the Paraguayan Ministry of Public Health headquarters, denouncing the serious problems within the public healthcare system.
María Rivarola, a participant from the ‘Health Rights Movement,’ stated, “The chicken monument is to expose the nation’s inefficiency.” She strongly criticized, “The state is failing to provide the necessary public healthcare services to its citizens. Preventable deaths, such as infant mortality, maternal mortality, and premature deaths of cancer patients, continue to occur, and we can no longer tolerate this.” She further emphasized, “Citizens are uniting to overcome difficulties, but this is clearly the state’s responsibility.”
Rivarola also expressed outrage, pointing out that “corrupt deals and unfair bidding practices by authorities waste the public healthcare budget and lead to shortages of essential medicines.”
As part of the ‘Citizens Without Health’ campaign led by the ‘Paraguayan Piau Party (PPP),’ Dora Flecha, the national coordinator of the ‘PPP Women’s Front,’ said, “We have been fighting for a free, high-quality public healthcare system for many years.” She stated, “Currently, Paraguay’s healthcare system is in the intensive care unit,” and added, “On World Health Day, we stand in solidarity with another group that erected a ‘chicken monument’ because a chicken saves far more lives than the state.” Coordinator Flecha further noted, “In local communities, the burden of medical expenses is so high that people are raising funds by selling chickens or holding piki vóley (a traditional Paraguayan sport) games.”
Coordinator Flecha pointed out various problems, including shortages of medicines and medical supplies in hospitals, the absence of child nutrition support programs, and a lack of family planning programs. She also highlighted the severe shortage of ambulances and neonatal intensive care units. She repeatedly emphasized, “The healthcare system is in crisis in both rural areas and the Central region.”
Meanwhile, the protests were held simultaneously across the country, including at the San Estanislao Hospital in San Pedro Department, the Coronel Oviedo Regional Hospital in Caaguazú Department, and family health units (USF) in the Uberlúd and Maracaná areas of Canindeyú Department.
Problems in Paraguay’s Public Healthcare System: Paraguay’s public healthcare system faces serious issues such as chronic budget deficits, a shortage of medical personnel, outdated facilities, and a lack of medicines and medical supplies. As a result, many citizens do not receive proper basic medical services, and the difficulties are particularly severe for low-income individuals and rural residents.
Symbolism of the Protest: The choice of a chicken as the subject of the monument is interpreted as a symbolic act highlighting the reality in Paraguay where economically disadvantaged people resort to raising or selling chickens as a means of self-help to cover medical expenses or maintain their health. This strongly criticizes the state for neglecting its responsibilities and passing the burden of suffering onto the citizens.
Future Outlook: This protest has voiced the public’s discontent with Paraguay’s inadequate public healthcare system, and attention is now focused on what improvement measures the government will propose in the future. Civil society organizations are expected to continue their monitoring and pressure to ensure efforts are made to improve the public healthcare system.
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