Panama public health and specialized care initiatives

Panama is implementing several initiatives to address critical public health challenges, particularly regarding non-communicable diseases and specialized medical care.

In late August 2026, the Ministry of Health (Minsa) launched a national technical training program in collaboration with the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO). This initiative utilizes the HEARTS strategy to expand cardiovascular disease prevention and monitoring across 15 health regions and 186 health facilities. The program aims to standardize patient monitoring for hypertension and diabetes to combat high mortality rates, as cardiovascular diseases accounted for 42.1% of deaths in 2024.

By September 2026, the Ministry began evaluating the recruitment of foreign medical specialists to fill essential vacancies in cardiology, anesthesiology, and oncology. This assessment follows technical inspections by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) regarding nuclear technology for cancer treatment. Concurrently, the government has supported Law 547, which establishes the ‘Right to Oncological Oblivion’ to reduce social and financial stigmas for cancer survivors.