What Happened
Panama offers free access to pre-exposure prophylaxis, known as PrEP, through 12 health centers spread across nine regions of the country. The preventive treatment is available in areas including the Metropolitan Region, Panamá Oeste, Chiriquí, Bocas del Toro, Veraguas, Herrera, Coclé and Panamá Norte.
PrEP is designed to help stop HIV infection before exposure occurs. It uses two antiretroviral medicines taken in advance, and the World Health Organization says it can be up to 99% effective when used correctly.
Who It Is For
The Ministry of Health says the program is aimed mainly at people with a higher risk of acquiring HIV. That includes people with multiple sexual partners who do not consistently use condoms, as well as key populations such as men who have sex with men, transgender women and sex workers.
Carlos Chávez, head of the Ministry of Health’s STI/HIV/AIDS section, has stressed that the treatment is part of a broader prevention strategy. Its purpose is to reduce new infections among groups most exposed to the virus.
HIV Situation in Panama
The continued rollout of PrEP comes against a backdrop of persistent HIV transmission in the country. In 2025, the Ministry of Health reported 1,750 new HIV cases, with the largest concentration in the Metropolitan Region and the Guna Yala comarca. Around 1,300 of those cases were men.
In total, about 24,400 people are living with HIV in Panama, and nearly 22,000 are receiving antiretroviral treatment. Health authorities say those figures show the need to strengthen both prevention and early diagnosis.
Why PrEP Matters
PrEP is one of the tools Panama is using to curb the spread of HIV, but officials also emphasize that it does not replace other protections. It does not prevent other sexually transmitted infections such as gonorrhea, chlamydia, herpes, trichomoniasis or syphilis, so condom use remains important.
Chávez has also urged sexually active people to get tested for HIV at least once a year. Early diagnosis can help people begin treatment sooner, improve quality of life and lower the risk of transmitting the virus to others.
Public Health Context
The expansion of free PrEP services reflects a wider public health effort to make prevention more accessible across Panama. While the medication is available through the health system, authorities continue to face the challenge of increasing public awareness and encouraging people at risk to seek care.
As HIV remains a major health issue in the country, health officials are pushing a combination of strategies: prevention, testing, and treatment. PrEP is now one of the most important tools in that approach.