The leader of the Association of Doctors, Dentists, and Related Professionals of the Social Security Fund (Amoacss), Fernando Castañeda, expressed his deep concern about what he described as a "dangerous insistence" by the Panamanian government to promote the unification of health services in the country. Castañeda pointed out that this measure constitutes an attack on the funds of the Social Security Fund (CSS) and considers it unconstitutional to use these resources to cover the entire population, a responsibility that, according to him, falls on the Ministry of Health.
During his intervention in a dialogue table about the situation of the CSS, Castañeda warned that unification will not solve the problems of the health system in Panama. Instead of addressing the existing structural difficulties, he argued that the government proposal seeks to use the funds of CSS affiliates rather than improve coordination between the Ministry of Health and the CSS without intertwining the finances.
The leader also expressed his fear that the government may already have a pre-fabricated plan to impose changes in the Disability, Old Age, and Death pension system (IVM) without considering the concerns of the insured. Castañeda urged legislators to safeguard the integrity of the CSS funds and warned that the Amoacss is prepared to mobilize in defense of these resources if its members decide so.
Castañeda emphasized the importance of maintaining decency and transparency in decisions affecting the CSS and called on deputies not to allow the institution's funds to be diverted to other purposes. The leader stated that the coming weeks will be decisive to see if a consensus is reached or if tensions between the government and health sectors intensify, hinting at the possibility of conflicts in defense of the interests of the Social Security Fund.
