Author: spieper

Panama’s Ministry of Health and Social Security Fund launched a new integrated services plan to strengthen the national fight against HIV/AIDS. Officials announced the strategy on Monday, December 1, coinciding with global World AIDS Day commemorations.The plan aims to unify protocols between the two major health systems, optimize resources, and ensure continuous care. Its primary goal is to reduce the persistent inequities affecting vulnerable populations across the country.”This plan recognizes that prevention protects lives. We will strengthen educational campaigns promoting sexual health, preventing STIs and HIV, and eliminating discrimination at all levels of care,” said Social Security Fund Director Dino…

Panama is collaborating with UNESCO to develop its museums and protect its cultural heritage. A high-level meeting in Paris this week established a framework for technical training and combating illicit artifact trafficking.The delegation from Panama met with key UNESCO officials to discuss a multi-year cooperation strategy. This dialogue focused on implementing international standards for museums within the Central American nation.Ana Elizabeth González, director of the Panama Canal Museum and president of ICOM Panama, led the talks. She stated the partnership is crucial for the sector’s future.”This relationship with UNESCO reaffirms our commitment to a solid museum sector aligned with international…

A 25-year-old man has died after a six-day hospital stay, becoming the seventh homicide victim in Panama’s Colón Province, Panama during the month of November. Kevin Alexander Castillo succumbed to injuries sustained in a violent altercation at his home in Cativá on November 23.Local authorities confirmed the suspect, a 29-year-old man, was apprehended and remains in custody. The fatal incident occurred during a heated argument, escalating when the assailant produced a knife and stabbed Castillo twice.Violent Altercation Ends in TragedyThe attack happened while Castillo was with family members at his residence. Witnesses reported the assailant stabbed the victim once in…

Retailers across Panama reported a dramatic increase in customer traffic and sales over the past weekend, driven by aggressive black friday and Cyber Monday promotions. The shopping frenzy, which began on November 28, officially kicks off the country’s extended holiday sales season leading up to Mother’s Day on December 8 and the end-of-year festivities.Stores and online platforms offered discounts ranging from 30 percent to as high as 70 percent on a wide array of goods. This strategic timing capitalizes on the traditional disbursement of Christmas bonuses, known locally as the “thirteenth month,” and other year-end payments to workers.Record Shopper Traffic…

Panama’s Minister of Social Development, Beatriz Carles, has publicly addressed two recent cases of abandoned newborn girls. The incidents occurred in late November in the provinces of Chiriquí and Panama. Carles confirmed one infant is now in a state shelter while authorities search for the mothers and investigate potential crimes.The minister emphasized that the Ministry of Social Development (Panama) will provide all necessary assistance to ensure the children’s welfare. She also issued a direct plea to women in crisis, urging them to seek alternatives to abandoning their babies. State child protection services have assumed custody of both infants as legal…

Panama Canal Deputy Administrator Ilya Espino de Marotta recently served as a judge for the international Queen Elizabeth Prize for Engineering. The Panamanian engineer participated in the selection process for the prestigious global award and attended a ceremony at St James’s Palace in London featuring King Charles III. Her role highlights the growing international recognition of engineering leadership from Panama. De Marotta confirmed her participation through her social media channels. She was part of the panel responsible for evaluating and selecting nominations for the prize, which honors bold and revolutionary engineering innovations that benefit humanity on a global scale. The…

Specialist doctors at Panama’s largest public hospital have publicly warned President Jose Raul Mulino against a proposed integration of the nation’s two main health systems. The Association of Medical Specialists of the Santo Tomas Hospital (Amehst) issued a formal letter this week expressing deep concern over a presidential commission studying a merger between the Ministry of Health (Panama) and the Caja de Seguro Social (CSS).Their primary fear centers on the potential misuse of CSS funds, which are financed exclusively by worker and employer payroll contributions. The doctors argue these resources legally belong to insured workers, not the government. A poorly…

Panama’s National Energy Secretariat (SNE) announced new fuel prices effective nationwide this Friday, November 28. The adjustments will see costs for 95-octane gasoline and low-sulfur diesel rise by as much as eight cents per liter over the next two weeks.The updated Maximum Consumer Sale Price at liquid fuel service stations in Panama City and Colon sets 95-octane gasoline at $0.888 per liter. That price reflects an eight-cent increase. In contrast, 91-octane gasoline will see a slight decrease of eight cents, selling for $0.843 per liter. The price of diesel will rise by seven cents, reaching a maximum of $0.866 per…

The International Banking Center in Panama reported a 5.5 percent annual increase in its net loan portfolio through October 2025. Official data released this week shows the sector’s total credit reached $100.1 billion, driven primarily by strong foreign lending activity.According to the latest Banking Activity Report from Panama’s banking regulator, the growth underscores the sector’s ongoing expansion. The foreign loan portfolio jumped 12.38 percent to $36.83 billion. Domestic lending saw a more modest rise of 1.63 percent, reaching $63.26 billion.”The credit portfolio consolidates as the main engine of asset expansion,” the report from the Superintendency of Banks of Panama stated.…

The Panama Maritime Chamber has publicly endorsed the proposed Puerto Barú port project during a session of the Chiriquí Provincial Council. The business guild framed the initiative as a strategic national work essential for improving connectivity and generating jobs in western Panama. This declaration adds significant institutional weight to the project, which aims to transform the area around David into a major Pacific logistics hub.René Gómez, president of the maritime chamber, argued that Puerto Barú aligns with a broader national vision for infrastructure modernization. He cited other major investments like a gas pipeline, the Río Indio water project, and port…