Panama Ministry of Health regulates medicine donations amid earthquake emergency

The Panama Ministry of Health (Minsa) has implemented a protocol to regulate the reception of medicine donations to ensure quality, safety, and traceability during the ongoing earthquake emergency.

According to Germán Pérez, the national director of Medicines and Supplies, all donations directed to Minsa must be requested through the Superior Office and undergo a technical evaluation. This process verifies sanitary requirements, including the condition of the products, expiration dates, and compliance with established standards. The protocol aims to track the origin of each donation and ensure timely delivery to patients.

Priority is currently being given to medications for chronic diseases, mental health, pain management, and respiratory or flu symptoms. Minsa emphasizes that not all medicines are needed at this stage and requests that individuals, companies, and organizations coordinate with the ministry beforehand to ensure donations meet identified sanitary needs.