Panama Signs Cooperation Agreement to Combat Respiratory Diseases

Respiratory diseases continue to be one of the leading causes of death in Panama, despite some being preventable through vaccination. Figures from the Ministry of Health (Minsa) reveal that, as of October, 16,956 cases of severe acute respiratory infections have been recorded. The doctor Jorge Rodríguez Sotomayor mentioned that another respiratory ailment affecting Panamanians is the Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV); therefore, it is important to reinforce hygiene measures, avoid self-medicating, and seek medical attention. For this reason, the authorities signed a cooperation agreement with AstraZeneca that will allow for the provision of spirometries to the system, facilitating the early diagnosis of these conditions that claim the lives of more than 300 people annually. The Minister of Health, Fernando Boyd Galindo, mentioned that rapid tests will simplify the timely detection of lung cancer, a disease that causes 370 new cases each year, and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), the fifth leading cause of death locally. In turn, Jorge Calderón, director of corporate affairs at AstraZeneca, indicated that the tests will begin to be distributed starting in 2026, mainly in West Panama, Colón, and Panama City, with the aim of raising awareness among the population. "Being able to detect and treat it in due course is fundamental," he stated. "The most important thing is to see a doctor, keep your vaccination schedule up to date, and not self-medicate, as respiratory diseases can be confused with others like dengue," he reiterated. The population most vulnerable to these diseases, according to Dr. Jorge Rodríguez Sotomayor, are children under five, the elderly, people with chronic diseases, and pregnant women, groups he urges to prioritize vaccination, especially against influenza, COVID-19, and pneumococcus.