Updates on public health, medical research, and healthcare services in Panama. Stories include policy changes, outbreaks, and practical health advice.
Panama’s Ministry of Health launched the 2026 Americas Vaccination Week in Herrera, with special emphasis on the district of Ocú. The campaign aims to strengthen immunization coverage and promote preventive care.
Patients at the David polyclinic in Chiriquí faced long pharmacy lines that, in some cases, caused fainting. Caja de Seguro Social says it is changing dispensing and storage procedures to improve service.
Patients in David reportedly fainted while waiting in long pharmacy lines at the local polyclinic. The Social Security system says it is making changes to medication dispensing and storage to improve service.
The University of Panama has modernized its veterinary laboratories with advanced simulation technology, improving hands-on learning for students. The upgrade is designed to strengthen practical training and raise the quality of instruction.
Patients at Santo Tomás Hospital are warning that the hemodialysis unit is nearing collapse because of equipment damage and supply shortages. The disruptions have also affected transplant-related procedures, intensifying concern for kidney patients.
Gaza is reporting a 140% rise in stillbirths and a doubling of congenital anomalies as war continues to overwhelm the territory’s health system. The figures point to a hidden humanitarian toll that extends well beyond battlefield casualties.
Victims of Panama’s dietilenglicol tragedy said a $25,000 court award to three affected people is far too low for the lasting medical and emotional damage caused by contaminated medicines. The ruling also orders a public apology, a memorial monument and continued updates on compensation claims.
Panama’s government agreed to pay $14.9 million to settle a dispute with the Nuevo ION Panamá consortium over the canceled new national cancer institute project. The payment will be split between 2026 and 2027.
Patients in Chiriquí are reporting waits of up to five days to collect medication at the Policlínica Gustavo A. Ros. The delays are affecting insured residents who depend on timely access to prescriptions.
Panama’s Public Prosecutor’s Office inspected CSS warehouses in Felipillo and El Crisol as part of a probe into expired medicines and medical supplies valued at about $2.5 million. Investigators found a wide range of expired items and collected documents for the case file.
Specialists in Veraguas performed a complex rotational osteotomy on a patient with bone deformities that severely limited hand movement and daily activity. The surgery marks an important step for advanced care in the province.
Patients in David are reporting long waits and outdoor lines at the Gustavo A. Ros Polyclinic while trying to collect medicines. Some say medication delivery can take up to five days.
Panama’s Health Ministry says the ban on drinking tap water in Azuero will remain in force until contamination in local rivers is brought under control. More than 100,000 people in Herrera and Los Santos have been affected since last year.
Health Minister Fernando Boyd Galindo said Panama should advance toward a new model of water governance, pointing to wastewater issues and the drinking water crisis in Azuero. His remarks came during the opening of the Water Forum led by the Inter-American Development Bank.
Panama’s Supreme Court ordered the State to pay $25,000 to the first three victims in the dietylene glycol case and to issue a public apology. The ruling comes as hundreds of related claims continue moving through the courts.
Panama’s Health Ministry says its ban on routine mental health certificates has exceptions for high-risk jobs such as security, transport, and teaching. The rule is meant to stop discriminatory screening while preserving safety checks in sensitive roles.
Spay Panamá will hold a sterilization day in Colón for dogs and cats. Pets operated on will be identified with standard ear markings used in animal welfare programs.
Panama’s Public Ministry is investigating the expiration of $2.5 million in medical supplies at the CSS. Inspectors are checking storage facilities as part of the case.
Panama’s Supreme Court has ordered State compensation for victims of the dietylene glycol case, advancing one of the country’s most painful legal and public health battles.
Panama’s Supreme Court ordered the state to compensate victims of the dietylene glycol scandal and issue a public apology. The decision renews attention on one of the country’s most painful public health cases.