AGP Executive Report

Robotic Surgery Training: Paraguay inaugurated its first “CER Training Center” for robotic surgery at the Universidad Católica campus in Asunción, training experienced specialist surgeons with online prep, simulation, and hands-on practice (including porcine models via an agreement with the national veterinary faculty). HIV Care Access: Paraguay reported a major public health milestone: nationwide rapid HIV testing surpassed 350,000 tests in 2025, with 91% of new patients starting treatment within 14 days as diagnostic networks expand across all 18 health regions. Yellow Fever Travel Rule: Costa Rica will require a yellow fever vaccination certificate for travelers to eight higher-risk destinations starting Oct. 1, including Paraguay, with exemptions for age, pregnancy/breastfeeding, and severe allergies/immunosuppression. Food Security & Forests: A new FAO report says forest and landscape restoration is key for food security and biodiversity, urging more investment and stronger governance to scale up. Beef Exports: President Santiago Peña said the U.S. is increasingly buying Paraguayan beef to help ease local meat prices, but Paraguay still lacks a dedicated U.S. import quota. Sports & Health Angle: Paraguay beat Bolivia 2-0 in an international friendly, with a win that keeps momentum ahead of upcoming regional matches.

HIV Care Access: Paraguay’s nationwide rapid HIV testing network surpassed 350,000 tests in 2025, with services now reaching all 18 health regions; officials say 91% of patients start treatment within 14 days, reflecting faster linkage to care through expanded regional diagnostics and training. Yellow Fever Travel Rule: Costa Rica will require a yellow fever vaccination certificate (digital or paper International Certificate) for travelers to eight higher-risk destinations starting Oct. 1, including Paraguay; the vaccine must be taken at least 10 days before travel, with exemptions for age, pregnancy/breastfeeding, allergies, and severe immunosuppression. Health & Environment Link: A new FAO report says forest and landscape restoration supports food security, biodiversity, and climate goals, urging more investment and stronger governance to scale restoration effectively. Public Health Context: Paraguay’s adolescent fertility remains a major challenge, with Fundación Naho supporting vulnerable adolescent mothers in Asunción through education, health support, training, and pathways to employment.

HIV Care Milestone: Paraguay’s public health system reports record rapid HIV testing, with 350,000+ tests reached nationwide in 2025 and 91% of patients starting treatment within 14 days, as services expand across all 18 health regions. Adolescent Health & Support: Fundación Naho highlights Paraguay’s high adolescent fertility rate and backs vulnerable teen mothers in Asunción with education, training, mental health support, and pathways to employment. Beef Exports & Prices: President Santiago Peña says the U.S. is turning to Paraguayan beef to help ease rising domestic meat prices, but Paraguay still lacks a dedicated U.S. import quota. Yellow Fever Travel Rule: Costa Rica will require an International Yellow Fever Vaccination Certificate for travelers to eight new destinations starting Oct. 1, including Paraguay, with specific age and medical exemptions. Health Workforce Pressure: Paraguayan health workers protest for higher wages, pointing to ongoing strain in the care system. Water Safety Concern: Communities near a mining project in Guatemala warn of reduced water availability and health risks, including possible heavy-metal contamination.

HIV Care Access: Paraguay’s Ministry reports a milestone: nationwide rapid HIV testing networks surpassed 350,000 tests in 2025, reaching all 18 health regions, with 91% of patients starting treatment within 14 days—boosted by decentralizing labs and training staff. Yellow Fever Preparedness: Costa Rica requires a digital yellow fever vaccination certificate for travelers (including to Paraguay) starting Oct. 1, with exemptions for age, pregnancy/breastfeeding, severe allergies, and immunosuppression; the vaccine must be taken at least 10 days before travel. Adolescent Mothers Support: Fundación Naho in Asunción backs vulnerable adolescent mothers with education, training, psychological support, and entrepreneurship, citing progress since 2017 for more than 1,100 women. Public Health Workforce: Paraguay health workers protest for higher wages, spotlighting staffing and pay pressures in care delivery. Health & Society: A report highlights how “wellbeing” efforts can miss financial and housing stressors that shape whether people can truly thrive. Regional Health Context: Coverage also flags measles risks tied to travel and mass events as vaccination coverage declines across the Americas.

HIV Care Access: Paraguay’s health authorities report a major milestone: nationwide diagnostic networks surpassed 350,000 rapid HIV tests in 2025, reaching all 18 health regions, and 91% of patients start treatment within 14 days—driven by decentralizing labs, training staff in 27 regional hospitals, and expanding self-testing options. Adolescent Mothers Support: Fundación Naho in Asunción backs vulnerable adolescent mothers with education, training, mental health support, and entrepreneurship; since 2017 it has accompanied 1,100+ women, with 64 completing its full program and 24 securing formal jobs. Health & Environment Watch: Reports from communities near a mining project in Asunción Mita raise alarms about reduced water availability and possible contamination, with residents linking dust and heavy vehicle traffic to respiratory illness and concerns about arsenic in water. Public Health Context: A Gavi-backed outlet warns measles spread across the Americas may have been boosted by international travel and mass gatherings around the 2026 World Cup, urging higher vaccination coverage.

Adolescent Mothers Support: Fundación Naho in Asunción is backing Paraguayan teen mothers with education, training, mental health support, and entrepreneurship—since 2017 it has reached 1,100+ women, with 64 completing the full program and 24 securing formal jobs. Health Workforce Pay: Paraguayan health workers are protesting for higher wages, spotlighting staffing and retention pressures in the public system. Measles Risk & Vaccines: A Gates/Gavi-backed outlet links measles spread across the Americas to declining vaccination coverage plus mass travel and World Cup gatherings, urging stronger immunization. Cross-Border Medicine Smuggling: Reports say contraband weight-loss and diabetes injections made in Paraguay are being diverted into Brazil via organized smuggling routes, with seizures surging sharply in 2026. Digital Safety & Access: Operation LUMEN is expanding across Latin America, including Paraguay, to block piracy and malware-linked sites—aiming to reduce exposure for millions online. Regional Health Diplomacy: Paraguay’s President Santiago Peña met with UAE foreign officials during UNGA discussions that included healthcare and AI cooperation.

Adolescent Mothers Support: Fundación Naho, based in Bañado Sur, Asunción, backs pregnant teens and adolescent mothers with education, training, mental health support and entrepreneurship; since 2017 it has accompanied 1,100+ women, with 64 completing the full program and 24 securing formal jobs, aiming to break cycles tied to school dropout and poverty. Measles Risk After Travel: A Gavi-backed outlet says measles transmission may have been boosted across the Americas by international travel and mass gatherings around the 2026 World Cup, urging higher vaccination coverage as immunity gaps widen. Weight-Loss Drug Smuggling: Brazil’s Federal Revenue Service reports a sharp rise in contraband weight-loss and diabetes injectables, including GLP-1 pens allegedly diverted from Paraguay, driven by social media demand. Online Piracy Crackdown: Operation LUMEN is blocking 317 stream-ripping and malware-linked domains across Latin America, with Paraguay’s DINAPI participating alongside Peru, Brazil, the Dominican Republic and Ecuador. Local Health Workers: Paraguayan health workers are protesting for higher wages.

Gaza at the UN: Competing speeches from Benjamin Netanyahu and Mahmoud Abbas sharpened global divisions over Gaza, with delegates walking out and calls ranging from food and medical aid to arms embargoes and settlement-trade restrictions. Hurricane response: Direct Relief says it delivered 615 medical shipments with 10.6 million daily doses across the U.S. and 22 countries, including supplies sent ahead of Hurricane Nolo’s expected heavy rains and flooding risk in Hawai’i. Measles alert for the Americas: A Gavi-backed outlet links measles spread to declining vaccination coverage plus mass travel and gatherings around the 2026 World Cup, urging renewed immunization efforts. Paraguay-linked drug smuggling: Reports say weight-loss and diabetes medications produced in Paraguay are being diverted into Brazil’s contraband routes, with seizures surging in 2026. Cyber/piracy enforcement: IFPI highlights Operation LUMEN, a coordinated Paraguay-led domain-blocking effort targeting 317 stream-ripping and malware sites across Latin America. Local health workers: Paraguayan health workers protested for higher wages.

Health Workforce: Paraguayan health workers protested in front of the Ministry of Public Health, demanding a 50% salary increase for about 45,000 healthcare and administrative staff left out of recent wage gains, and pushing for a clear healthcare career path to reduce wage gaps and precarious conditions. Public Health & Immunization: A Gavi-backed outlet says measles spread across the Americas may have been accelerated by international travel and mass gatherings around the 2026 World Cup, urging higher vaccination coverage. Medicines Safety & Crime: Reports from Brazil link surging demand to a spike in smuggled weight-loss injections, including GLP-1 pens allegedly produced in Paraguay and diverted into organized routes. Digital Health Risks & Enforcement: Paraguay joined a regional crackdown, “Operation LUMEN,” blocking 317 stream-ripping and malware-linked domains across several countries, including Paraguay’s DINAPI, to reduce exposure to malicious sites. Food & Supply Chain: Brazil’s smaller wheat crop is already lifting cereal prices and is expected to drive record wheat imports—an indirect pressure point for regional nutrition costs.

Health Workforce Protest: Paraguay’s health workers protested in front of the Ministry of Public Health, demanding a 50% salary increase for about 45,000 healthcare and administrative staff left out of recent pay gains, alongside a clearer healthcare career path to reduce wage gaps and precarious conditions. Online Piracy & Malware Crackdown: Paraguay’s DINAPI joined “Operation LUMEN,” a regional effort led by Peru’s INDECOPI to block 317 stream-ripping and malware-linked domains across Paraguay, Brazil, Peru, the Dominican Republic, and Ecuador, targeting millions of monthly visits. Measles Risk Linked to Travel: A Gavi-backed outlet says international travel and mass gatherings around the 2026 World Cup may have helped fuel measles spread across the Americas as vaccination coverage declines, urging renewed immunization efforts. Health Tech Data Push: A wound-care company highlighted its large global chronic wound database and technology aimed at helping providers track healing outcomes and standardize care. Medicine Smuggling Watch: Reports say contraband weight-loss injections (including GLP-1 brands) smuggled from Paraguay into Brazil have surged, with seizures rising sharply in 2026.

Health Workers’ Pay Protest: Paraguay’s health workers staged a protest outside the Ministry of Public Health, demanding a 50% salary increase and a real healthcare career path for about 45,000 healthcare and administrative staff left out of recent wage gains. Public Health & Safety Risks: Reports of contraband weight-loss drugs smuggled from Paraguay into Brazil are rising fast, with Brazil’s seizures up sharply in 2026—raising concerns about unsafe, unregulated medicines. Digital Health & Consumer Protection: Operation LUMEN, led by Peru’s INDECOPI with Paraguay’s DINAPI, is blocking 317 piracy/malware-linked domains across several countries, including Paraguay, to reduce exposure to malicious sites. Youth Health Access: Paraguay’s Youth Day data highlights gaps in health coverage: only about 24.9% of young people have current health insurance, alongside poverty and education challenges. Food & Wellness Culture: Vori Vori, Paraguay’s corn-and-cheese soup, again ranks as the world’s top soup on TasteAtlas, reinforcing local food traditions tied to everyday nutrition.

Health Workers’ Pay Fight: Paraguay’s health workers protested at the Ministry of Public Health, demanding a 50% salary increase and a clearer healthcare career path for about 45,000 healthcare and administrative staff. HIV Prevention Access: PAHO says lenacapavir long-acting HIV prevention (PrEP) will be available in 14 countries in the region, including Paraguay, via PAHO’s revolving funds with Gilead support. Drug Smuggling Alert: Reports say contraband weight-loss injections made in Paraguay are being diverted into Brazil-linked smuggling routes, with seizures surging in 2026. Digital Health & AI Links: Paraguay’s digital affairs deputy discussed AI governance and health-related tech cooperation with Taiwan during a Paraguay-Taiwan technology forum in Asunción. Water Safety Worry (Regional): Communities near a mining project in Guatemala warn of falling water supplies and possible contamination tied to health complaints, including respiratory illness. Food & Wellness Culture: Paraguay’s vori vori was again ranked the world’s top soup by TasteAtlas, reinforcing local nutrition traditions.

Health Workers’ Pay Fight: Paraguay’s health workers protested in front of the Ministry of Public Health, demanding a 50% salary increase for about 45,000 healthcare and administrative staff and calling for a clear healthcare career path to close wage gaps. HIV Prevention Access: PAHO says Paraguay and 13 other countries can procure lenacapavir for long-acting HIV prevention through PAHO’s Regional Revolving Funds, expanding twice-yearly PrEP options. Medicines Smuggling Alert: Reports say contraband weight-loss drugs made in Paraguay are being diverted into Brazil’s organized smuggling routes, with seizures surging in 2026. Digital Health & AI Cooperation: Paraguay’s digital affairs deputy minister met Taiwan counterparts at a technology forum focused on AI governance and health-related digital development. Public Health Tech & Safety: Operation LUMEN is pushing cross-border domain blocking tied to stream-ripping and malware, with Paraguay’s DINAPI among participating agencies. Youth Health Coverage Gap: Paraguay’s Youth Day data highlights that only about a quarter of young people have current health insurance, alongside poverty and education challenges.

Health Workforce: Paraguayan health workers protested at the Ministry of Public Health demanding a 50% salary increase and a clearer healthcare career path for about 45,000 healthcare and administrative staff. HIV Prevention Access: PAHO says Paraguay and 13 other countries can procure lenacapavir for long-acting HIV prevention via its Regional Revolving Funds, expanding options for twice-yearly PrEP. Pharma & Rare Disease: Sandoz and mAbxience signed a deal to develop and manufacture an emicizumab biosimilar for haemophilia A, aiming to broaden biosimilar access. Digital Health & Safety: Operation LUMEN is being carried out across Paraguay and other countries to block 317 stream-ripping and malware-linked sites, citing millions of monthly visitors and malware risks. Youth Health Coverage: Paraguay’s Youth Day data highlights gaps: only about a quarter of 15–29-year-olds have current health insurance, alongside poverty and education challenges. Community Care: Paraguay’s maquila sector growth is reported alongside job creation, a reminder that economic stability can shape health outcomes.

Health Workers Protest: Paraguay’s health workers staged a protest outside the Ministry of Public Health, demanding a 50% salary increase and a clearer healthcare career path for about 45,000 healthcare and administrative staff. HIV Prevention Access: PAHO says Paraguay and 13 other countries can procure long-acting lenacapavir for HIV prevention via PAHO’s Regional Revolving Funds, expanding twice-yearly PrEP options. Snakebite Preparedness: PAHO marked International Snakebite Awareness Day by highlighting regional support in Paraguay to strengthen surveillance, diagnosis, treatment protocols, and timely access to antivenoms. Pharma Partnerships: Sandoz and mAbxience signed an emicizumab biosimilar deal for haemophilia A, with mAbxience developing and manufacturing and Sandoz holding commercialization rights in most markets. Youth Health Coverage Gap: Paraguay’s Youth Day data shows only 24.9% of 15–29-year-olds have current health insurance, alongside poverty and education challenges. Food & Nutrition Culture: Vori Vori (paraguayan corn-and-cheese soup) again topped TasteAtlas’ global soup ranking, reinforcing local dietary heritage.

HIV Prevention Access: PAHO says Paraguay and 13 other countries can procure long-acting lenacapavir for HIV prevention via its Regional Revolving Funds, expanding twice-yearly PrEP options after WHO recommended it in 2025. Public Health Capacity: PAHO marks International Snakebite Awareness Day by highlighting work in Paraguay to train health professionals, review surveillance and treatment gaps, and improve timely access to antivenoms. Youth Health Coverage Gap: Paraguay’s Youth Day data shows only 24.9% of 15–29-year-olds have current health insurance, alongside poverty and education challenges—prompting more scholarships and training places. Health Policy & Care Access: A Paraguay bone marrow donor registration drive aims to offer new hope for patients needing matches. Rare Disease Treatment Partnerships: Sandoz and mAbxience signed an emicizumab biosimilar deal for haemophilia A, aiming to broaden access to biologic medicines. Education & Health Link: Teachers’ protests in Asunción and other cities demand higher pay and more education investment, with implications for long-term community wellbeing.