Panama has opened 77 vacancies for doctors in regions where the healthcare system is at its breaking point. In the provinces of Bocas del Toro, Chiriquí, Colón, Coclé, and Panamá Este, hospitals are facing a critical shortage of pediatricians, cardiologists, gynecologists, and ophthalmologists. The Director of Medical Services, Marcos Young, explained on TVN-2 that while there are general practitioners available, few are willing to relocate to these remote areas. The CSS offers salaries ranging from $3,000 to $4,200, plus bonuses and overtime that can bring monthly earnings to $7,000 or $8,000. Housing is also provided in critical areas, but the vacancies remain unfilled. This is the fifth recruitment drive the institution has conducted. The Social Security Fund (Caja de Seguro Social - CSS) has launched a new search for specialist doctors to alleviate pressure in the country's interior. Previous attempts only managed to hire two Panamanian specialists, leaving hundreds of patients at risk. If enough positions are not filled, the CSS does not rule out bringing in foreign doctors as a last resort, a measure aimed at preventing dangerous delays in procedures like C-sections or emergency surgeries. The immediate goal is to fill at least 20 to 25 positions to provide relief to the most affected hospitals and improve access to specialized care in communities that are understaffed.
