Updates on public health, medical research, and healthcare services in Panama. Stories include policy changes, outbreaks, and practical health advice.
Panama’s National Assembly has approved by insistence a bill to extend operating hours at health centers nationwide, overruling Executive objections. The measure expands primary care access beyond the regular workday but stops short of mandating 24-hour service.
Panama’s National Cancer Institute has launched new palliative care rooms at the Hospital de Cancerología in Ciudad de la Salud, expanding support for cancer patients. The unit is being implemented gradually through coordination with the Ministry of Health and the Social Security Fund.
Éanna Doyle of County Wexford is heading to Panama for a month-long placement with Floating Doctors, helping deliver care to remote communities. The work will support people with limited access to medical services.
Panama’s Social Security Fund says it is working with resident and intern doctors to resolve payment delays that have accumulated since 2020. The agency attributes the backlog to late paperwork and missing signatures, and says it has already paid about $1.2 million in obligations.
Health teams in Colón are intensifying fumigation as Panama continues to face dengue as a recurring public health threat. The effort aims to reduce mosquito populations and limit transmission in at-risk areas.
The National Cancer Institute has opened a palliative care unit for cancer patients at Ciudad de la Salud in Panama City. The new service expands specialized support focused on comfort and quality of life.
Ciudad de la Salud has opened a new palliative oncology care room in Panama, designed to provide dignified and humanized support for cancer patients. The unit adds to the country’s specialized oncology services with a focus on comfort and quality of life.
Health authorities in Colón have stepped up fumigation after dengue cases rose in the province. The response combines mosquito control, cleanup efforts, and community participation to slow transmission.
Panama’s National Assembly approved a bill to extend hours in health centers and push Minsa to strengthen public medical services. The plan aims to improve access to primary care for residents across the country.
MINSA will hold fairs from April 16 to 18 in Panama for people who need to obtain or renew the white and green health cards. The events are aimed at speeding up certification for workers in sectors that require sanitary documentation.
Health officials in Colón have stepped up fumigation operations after dengue cases increased in the province. The move is part of a broader effort to control mosquito-borne transmission.
Ciudad de la Salud’s obesity clinic is offering integrated treatment for severe cases in Panama, including patients with major mobility limitations. One case involved a 61-year-old man who lived isolated at home for 15 years because his weight exceeded 500 pounds.
MINSA held a health card fair at Albrook Terminal from 7:00 a.m. to help applicants obtain the white and green cards used in Panama. The event was organized at a major transport hub to improve access for workers and residents.
Residents in Villa Cecilia de Pedregal are warning of sewage contamination that has brought mosquitoes, foul odors and reported skin problems in children. The neighborhood is urging attention to what has become a growing sanitation and health concern.
Panama is preparing to open the Animal Welfare Clinic Hospital “Más Colas” in San Miguelito, a new facility with emergency, surgery, and imaging services. The project was inspected by Minister Juan Carlos Orillac ahead of its inauguration by President José Raúl Mulino.
Azuero is nearing one year since authorities declared its water unsafe for human consumption, with residents still relying on rationing and temporary measures. The crisis highlights years of delayed action on contamination in the La Villa River.
Panama’s Ministry of Health is warning that screen time is replacing active play and increasing the risk of childhood obesity. The concern highlights the growing impact of sedentary habits on children’s health.
CSS said late attendance controls are the main obstacle delaying payments to medical interns and residents. The issue highlights how administrative timing can affect payroll in Panama’s public health system.
A new veterinary clinic in San Miguelito is nearing opening after a $246,000 build by Isobox Inc. The facility will be managed by Fundación Manchitas.
A 15-year-old student died in Coronte, Ngäbe Buglé, after being swept into the Cricamola River while crossing a creek during heavy rain. The case highlights ongoing dangers for children traveling to school and home in remote Panama communities.