This Monday, the Commission for the Integration of Health Services in Herrera and Los Santos was launched. The goal is to ensure that any person, with or without insurance, can access hospitals and health centers. The commission includes representatives from the Ministry of Health, the Social Security Fund, the Ministry of the Presidency, the Ministry of Economy and Finance, and the patronatos. All are tasked with coordinating services, reviewing resource usage, and ensuring each institution maintains its separate budget. Minister of Health Fernando Boyd stated, "We are called upon to ensure effective coordination that raises the well-being level of every Panamanian." Marcos Young, from the CSS, explained that there are already mechanisms in place to adjust costs and make better use of resources. The idea is to work together, for each entity to do its part, but for the people to truly receive care. The plan aims to strengthen primary care, prioritize hospitals, and promote training and research to form specialists to meet the needs of the interior. It also seeks to guarantee equipment and supplies, and to promote prevention and education in all facilities. The process will be gradual. According to Executive Decree No. 26 of 2025, the goal is clear: a more efficient health system that reaches everyone, even the most remote corners.
