If you are going to move to Paraguay, one of your main interests is certainly to know the Paraguayan Health System. Paraguay is radically changing its public Health System to turn it into an excellent service.
WORKING FOR A CHANGE
As a matter of fact, at present this issue is very important for Paraguay. The State is going to implement the reforms of Health System in any case, despite of potential future changes of Government. The primary objective is to definitively improve the access and coverage of its health services to get to a universal coverage, that now does not cover all rural areas of the country, even if urban structures are very modern.
PUBLIC HEALTH SYSTEM: A REAL INVESTMENT FOR THE COUNTRY
Paraguay considers that conversion and improvement of public Health System is not only merely a cost but also an investment. A feedback and a result of the economic development of Paraguay also consists of the health of its people. If people are healthy, they can help economy and community. Healthy people are more vital, enterprising and consequently more productive. Furthermore, people can be more easily educated and all this contributes in a determining way to a real reduction of poverty in the country.
Paraguay is moving in a diametrically opposed (and smarter…) direction, compared to that of European countries. European countries are cutting in every way their expenditure on Health System, especially against older and most vulnerable people. The waiting time for visits and medical examinations are getting longer and longer, paid medications are increasing and so on….
And Paraguay? Paraguay is taking advantage from its constantly increasing GDP and is investing without hesitation on its public Health System.
And results are now coming. As a matter of fact, Word Health Organization (WHO) has just officially recognized Paraguay as a country free from malaria. Seven years have passed with no cases of malaria in the local population and for this reason the WHO has decreed that malaria is a problem of the past and if, unfortunately, it should start again, Paraguay is absolutely able to withstand a possible future outbreak.
In 1973 Cuba was the last country that obtained this recognition and it was 45 years ago. Since then malaria is no longer present in Cuba and Paraguay and despite economic policies of the two countries were very different, this result is mainly due to the strong investment in the health sector.
In Paraguay the last case of malaria was in 2011 and, subsequently, the country has concretely worked to prevent the appearance of further cases, especially with regard to sectors of most vulnerable people, who live in the internal areas of the country, (the inhabitants of Departments of Caaguazú, Canindeyú and Alto Paraná).
Specifically, the project was structured around the strengthening of protocols of detection and control of individual cases, the inclusion of the community in a project of prevention, the identification of symptoms and the diagnosis.
It was undoubtedly demonstrated that this project was successful and its result was to stop the transmission of malaria, without new cases of malaria in the last seven years. Nevertheless, in 2016 the Paraguayan Ministry of Health undertook a further three-year plan to improve the knowledge about this illness and sent it to the healthcare workers of the 18 regions of the country.
CREATING JOBS IN HEALTH SYSTEM
Undoubtedly, the transformation, the enlargement and the improvement of National Health System intended to increase the number of workers committed in this sector: nurses, doctors, professors, dentists, pharmacists, ambulance crews and so on…
In the past, when no improvement policy of National Health System was carried out, the report doctors/patients was already good and there were already the conditions for a satisfactory service.
The difference is that in the past years doctors were concentrated in the capital Asunción and in the surrounding areas and not all over the country as current policies intend to implement.
The purpose of the ongoing reforms of Health System seeks to remedy just to this problem, but if you are going to live in the capital, this problem does not concern you directly.
AND WHAT ABOUT PRIVATE HEALTH SYSTEM?
In Paraguay, there are even greater resources available for private Health System both from a technological point of view and as regards the choice of professionals. Only 5% of local people address private Health System.
If you are going to reside in Paraguay, we advise you to take out a private health insurance, that is very cheap, if you compare it with an European or U.S private health insurance.
With this insurance you are not obliged to give up on public Health System, but every time you can choose the best solution for you.
LIVING IN PARAGUAY SUPPORTS YOU AT 360°!
It is certain that if you takes out a health insurance in Paraguay, we strongly suggest you to rely on Living In Paraguay, the only European Consultancy Company which can support you at 360°. As a matter of fact, this company will always be at your side during your move to this wonderful country and will also help you to find the best Health Insurance.
