Paraguayan Doctor Trained in Cuba Rejects Political Allegations: "Neither Communist nor Socialist"

Rossana González, the general secretary of Paraguay's National Union of Doctors (Sinamed), stood firm on Tuesday regarding her medical education in Cuba, dismissing claims that her studies on the island imply any ideological alignment with the Cuban regime.

The union leader addressed an online smear campaign against her professional background amidst leading a national strike of Paraguayan public sector doctors.

According to Radio 780 AM, González shared that she traveled to Cuba in 1996 at the age of 17 through a bilateral agreement after finding no other opportunities to pursue a medical degree.

Born in Ciudad del Este to separated parents, she noted that her family lacked the financial means to support her medical studies in Asunción, where opportunities were scarce at the time.

Educational Challenges and Opportunities

Before heading to Cuba, González had tried to secure a spot through a program to study in Brazil but was excluded despite her academic excellence. "That was the first act of corruption in my life, having been left out. I was the top student with perfect scores in school," she stated.

Faced with limited options, she embraced the chance to study in Cuba, emphasizing that her decision was not politically motivated. "I never belonged to any movement, be it communist, socialist, liberal, or conservative," she stressed.

Diplomatic Engagements and Misunderstandings

González also addressed criticism for participating in events at the Cuban diplomatic mission during her time there. She clarified that her attendance was out of gratitude for the education she received, not a reflection of political endorsement. "When invited to embassy events, why not attend? It's not about sharing ideologies but about being thankful to the country that provided an education," she remarked.

Allegations and Professional Advocacy

She reported that the smear campaign against her involves fake profiles, bots, and trolls questioning her professional integrity and even disclosing her salary information. "This is not an attack on Rossana González; it's an attack on the medical union. I represent and speak for them, but I'm being targeted by non-existent entities trying to tarnish my reputation," she said, as reported by ABC Color.

The controversy unfolds amid a national strike launched by Sinamed on August 24, demanding salary hikes, improved working conditions, and necessary supplies for healthcare workers. The union is pushing for an increase of up to 76%, a demand the Paraguayan government deems "impossible."

This week, the conflict intensified with hundreds of specialist doctors submitting resignations to the Ministry of Public Health and Social Welfare.

Cuba has long offered scholarships to low-income Latin American students to study medicine on the island, a program often scrutinized for its ideological implications.

González expressed her intention to stop addressing accusations about her past and urged focus on the demands of the healthcare professionals she represents. "This is the last time I talk about this because it's not personal; it involves the union and represents 11,000 doctors," she concluded.