Updates on public health, medical research, and healthcare services in Panama. Stories include policy changes, outbreaks, and practical health advice.
Panama’s Health Ministry plans to invest $1 billion in 2026 to build new hospitals, modernize health centers and expand telemedicine. The program is designed to improve access and strengthen the public health system nationwide.
Fernando Boyd toured the new palliative care and cancer pain relief unit at the National Oncology Institute in Ciudad de la Salud. The space is intended to improve comfort, dignity, and comprehensive care for cancer patients.
Ciudad de la Salud has opened a palliative care oncology room at the Cancerology Hospital, offering support to both insured and uninsured patients. The service expands access to comfort-focused cancer care in Panama City.
Panama has recorded more than 2,000 dengue cases so far this year, with six deaths reported. The Metropolitan Region, Colón and San Miguelito are among the hardest-hit areas.
Idaan resumed service at the Centenario water plant in Pacora after a chlorine leak triggered an emergency. The operator involved was hospitalized and later confirmed to be out of danger.
Panama will hold Escuelas para Padres sessions from May 12 to 15 in all 16 education regions, bringing thousands of parents into school-focused learning spaces. The program highlights the growing importance of cooperation between families and schools.
The WHO says hantavirus in the cruise ship outbreak likely began before passengers boarded, pointing to exposure in Argentina or during wildlife activities. Three people have died and contact tracing is underway across multiple countries.
Three people have died and one is critically ill after a hantavirus outbreak on a stranded cruise ship, with two cases confirmed and five more suspected. The incident has raised alarm over disease control in confined maritime settings.
Skin diseases are spreading in Gaza’s overcrowded refugee camps as rising temperatures worsen already dire sanitation and health conditions. The outbreak highlights the growing humanitarian toll of the war and displacement crisis.
Ricardo Sotelo has resigned as president of the Caja de Seguro Social board, drawing attention to leadership changes at one of Panama’s most important public institutions. The move comes as the CSS remains central to the country’s healthcare and pension system.
Residents of Cerro Batea are reporting a repeated wastewater overflow in a footpath and are demanding an urgent fix. They say this is the third time the problem has affected the community.
The CSS carried out an advanced cardiac procedure in Chiriquí that saved two patients with severe heart conditions. The intervention highlights growing specialized care capacity in western Panama.
Chiriquí’s hospital system has added an innovative coronary technique that strengthens its hybrid operating room and hemodynamics unit. The upgrade reinforces the province’s growing role in cardiovascular care in Panama.
Panama’s CSS will let people access health services and make payments with only their national ID card starting in May 2026. The shift will replace the need for a physical CSS card in those procedures.
Panama’s CSS will let insured people access health services and payments using only their cédula starting May 1, 2026. The change aims to simplify routine procedures and speed up service access.
A NASA Gulfstream C-20A arrived in Panama for an airborne science mission focused on tropical biodiversity, environmental monitoring, and STEM outreach. The project runs through May 9 with the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute.
Panama is advancing efforts toward remission in rheumatoid arthritis, a chronic autoimmune disease affecting about 15,000 people nationwide. The condition can cause pain, stiffness, and progressive joint damage if not detected early.
Panama’s firefighters have handled more than 4,000 bee-related emergencies this year, renewing warnings about the danger of africanized bees. Officials are urging people to avoid disturbing swarms and to take precautions near hives.
A hantavirus case has drawn attention to Panama’s need for strong maritime health controls as a major transit hub. The incident highlights the importance of port monitoring and coordination in protecting trade and public safety.
A suspected hantavirus outbreak on a cruise ship in the Atlantic Ocean has killed three people and sickened at least three others, raising concerns about disease control at sea. The incident also underscores Panama’s need for strong maritime health monitoring as a major transit hub.