Panama's Ministry of Health is launching telemedicine as an alternative to expand healthcare coverage and address the shortage of specialists. Minister of Health Fernando Boyd Galindo announced that the government is promoting telemedicine as an alternative to expand healthcare coverage in Panama and face the scarcity of specialists, while explaining the budgetary limitations the sector faces. The ministry expects telemedicine to optimize the use of specialists, as many cases can be resolved by general practitioners, decongesting in-person consultations and prioritizing care for patients who truly require specialized services. With this strategy, the Ministry of Health projects to have between 25 and 50 doctors in the service this year, and increase to 200 professionals next year. The minister emphasized that the system will allow users to communicate from their cell phones to a medical call center, avoiding transportation costs and reducing congestion in health centers and emergency rooms.
