Author: Sebastian Pieper

Walking through the aisles of a Panamanian supermarket, shoppers can now grab milk, bread, and a medical consultation all in one trip. Supermarkets Xtra, a major retail chain in Panama, has launched a health assistance program called Plan Xtra Salud that places telemedicine booths inside two of its locations. The move makes Xtra the first grocery retailer in the region to embed primary healthcare services directly within its stores. The timing of this initiative reflects a pressing national reality. According to a survey commissioned by IQVIA, Out-of-pocket health expenditure in Panama accounts for roughly 37 percent of total household health…

The numbers are stark. Eight out of every ten companies in Panama have let workers go during the first half of 2026. That puts the country at the top of a grim regional ranking, far ahead of neighbors like Chile and Peru. The data comes from the Salaries and Hiring 2026 study, conducted by the employment platform Konzerta, which surveyed human resources specialists across five Latin American nations. Panama’s 86% layoff rate towers over Chile’s 71%, Peru’s 68%, Ecuador’s 68%, and Argentina’s 67%. The figure also represents a ten-point jump from the same period in 2025, when 76% of firms…

The humpback whales return to Panama’s warm waters each year between July and October, drawing thousands of tourists eager for a glimpse of these majestic creatures. But this year, officials are sounding the alarm. With more boats than ever crowding the observation zones, the risk of collisions and disturbances has reached a critical point. The Panama Ministry of Environment has issued an urgent appeal for everyone on the water to follow the rules or face serious consequences. Captain Jorge Reyes has been leading whale-watching tours for over a decade. He told reporters that he has seen too many boats chase…

A major financial institution in Panama has stepped forward to clarify its role in a widening tax investigation. BAC, a bank with operations across six countries in Central America, issued an official statement reaffirming its commitment to legal compliance and transparency. The move comes as fiscal authorities scrutinize certain transactions involving tax credits. The bank explained that the practice at the center of the inquiry involves a standard financial mechanism. Companies can engage in Tax credit acquisition for future tax payments, a tool used by many businesses in the country. BAC emphasized that it never received government funds for these…

Public health officials in western Panama are raising red flags. A new survey from 2025 reveals that 7.2% of residents in Chiriqui Province now use tobacco or nicotine products. That number might sound small. But it represents a troubling jump from the 6.4% recorded in 2013. The Panama Ministry of Health is taking notice. Maria Juanita Castillo leads the regional Health Promotion office. She didn’t mince words about the situation. ‘We need to strengthen prevention and awareness actions to fight this addiction and reduce its impact on public health’ [Translated from Spanish] Her call to action comes as data shows…

The global food delivery landscape just experienced a seismic shift, and Panama is squarely in the middle of it. Uber Technologies has agreed to acquire the German giant Delivery Hero for a staggering $14 billion, a move that will bring PedidosYa and Uber Eats under the same corporate roof in Panama and dozens of other countries. The transaction is expected to close in the second half of 2027, pending regulatory approvals. This is not a simple merger of equals. It represents a fundamental reordering of the on-demand delivery sector. Uber will pay Delivery Hero shareholders €41.50 in cash per share,…

Poin Panama’s general manager, César Meléndez, addressed the public concern directly. He stated that visitors seeking extreme experiences in Panama City should remain confident that the activities “continue with safety” as their top priority. The company emphasized that the interruption was not caused by equipment failure but by weather conditions. Strong headwinds can create resistance that counteracts the rider’s momentum, Meléndez explained. He described this deceleration as a normal phenomenon that “occurs on any zipline in the world” designed for high altitudes. ‘The cable is designed to support loads of several tons and undergoes continuous inspection programs’ [Translated from Spanish]…

The diplomatic dance between Panama and the United States took a sharp turn this week when Ambassador Kevin Marino Cabrera directly challenged a Panamanian legislator’s account of her visa status. The exchange highlights growing friction over Panama’s parliamentary ties with Beijing. “She would like to say it expired, but they can take it away before it expires,” Cabrera said during a press conference. “If she doubts that, let her apply again and see what results she gets” [Translated from Spanish]. The ambassador made it clear that the US Visa Revocation Authority operates under strict sovereign prerogatives that do not require…

Panama is moving to close a legal gap that has left citizens vulnerable to digitally manufactured attacks on their reputation. A new preliminary bill introduced in the Panama National Assembly seeks to punish those who use advanced technology to destroy personal honor. The proposal comes as manipulated media spreads faster than the law can adapt. Representative Dana Castañeda presented the legislation before the full assembly. The bill modifies the existing Panama Penal Code to specifically address crimes committed through artificial intelligence and digital editing tools. Current laws covering defamation and slander have proven insufficient against modern techniques like voice cloning…

Panama’s cultural heritage is getting a fresh visual identity. The Reina Torres de Araúz Museum of Anthropology, widely known as MARTA, has launched a national competition to design its new logo. The contest officially opened after the Ministry of Culture Panama published Resolution No. 122-2026 in the government gazette. This museum holds a special place in Panama’s cultural landscape. It first opened its doors in 1976 as the Museum of Man. Seven years later, Law No. 7 officially renamed it after Reina Torres de Araúz, the pioneering Panamanian anthropologist who founded and championed the institution. Her vision was to create…