President José Raúl Mulino announced significant advancements in the health sector during a recent update. Significant progress was made in reducing surgical backlogs and in the supply of medications and medical supplies. He also supported the Minister of Economy and Finance, Felipe Chapman, and discussed topics such as the migration situation and a new training agreement in technology with Amazon.
Mulino reported that 367 cardiac surgeries were performed between October 3 and 25, representing 28% of the surgical backlog in this field. This has allowed the average waiting time for cardiac procedures to be reduced from five to three months. In the province of Chiriquí, 315 of the 352 pending surgeries were completed, 97 of which were cardiac. Regarding the supply of medications, it is found that 76% is available and it is expected that the supply will be complete in the next three weeks. Additionally, 43% of medical supplies are already available, projecting that by mid-November, all polyclinics in the country will be supplied and offering laboratory tests.
The president expressed his support for Felipe Chapman, praising his knowledge in public finance during an appearance before the National Assembly. Mulino also pointed out the lack of precision in the information handled by some deputies. Regarding the fiscal relationship with the European Union, it was mentioned that Panama remains on the list of some European countries, but a diplomatic offensive is planned to address this issue in 2024.
A partnership between the Ministry of Education and Amazon was highlighted to train 31,000 Panamanians in technological tools and artificial intelligence at no cost, aimed at preparing young people for a digitized future. Regarding migration, Mulino announced fines ranging from $1,000 to $5,000 for foreigners entering Panama irregularly, depending on the severity of the offense. As of October, 21,542 migrants have entered the country, the majority from Venezuela.
