What Happened
The Social Security Fund of Panama, known as the CSS, says payment delays affecting internal medicine residents and intern doctors continue because of problems in processing payroll paperwork. The institution says the issue is tied mainly to late document delivery and missing signatures on attendance controls and compliance records.
According to the CSS, those paperwork problems have slowed the timely execution of budgeted funds and left unpaid payrolls pending since February 2020. The agency said it has been meeting with the National Federation of Resident and Intern Doctors, or Fenameri, to review and strengthen the payment process for medical shifts.
Payments Already Made
The CSS said it has already honored commitments worth about $1.2 million, even though those obligations were not part of the current administration’s responsibilities and were not included in the 2025 budget. The institution also set extraordinary deadlines to regularize payrolls tied to prior fiscal periods and created mechanisms to process documents submitted after the deadline.
The fund said the goal is to keep payments moving while handling older cases that were left unresolved. It also said it is working to ensure that doctors who met the established deadlines can receive what they are owed.
Where the Delays Persist
Despite progress in some areas, the CSS acknowledged that late payroll submissions continue, especially at the Dr. Arnulfo Arias Madrid Complex Hospital. Even so, the institution said most executive units are complying with the required procedures, allowing payments to be processed on time in many cases.
To address the backlog, representatives from the CSS and Fenameri will review payrolls that were returned or held back. That review will focus on confirming submission dates and moving forward with payments for those who complied with the deadlines.
Why It Matters
The dispute highlights a recurring problem in Panama’s public health system: administrative delays that affect frontline medical staff. Resident and intern doctors are central to hospital operations, and payment backlogs can deepen frustration across the health sector.
The CSS said it remains committed to transparency, administrative efficiency and fulfilling its obligations to medical personnel. Similar payment delays have also been reported by other health workers, including nursing staff and occupational health specialists.