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 Mon. [Translated from Spanish]
Health authorities confirmed an estimated 28,000 people are currently living with HIV in Panama. They recommend annual testing for the general population to enable early detection and treatment.
Targeting High Incidence Regions
The integrated strategy will initially concentrate efforts in five regions reporting the highest number of cases. These include the Metropolitan Region, Panama Oeste, San Miguelito, Bocas del Toro, Chiriquí, and the Ngäbe-Buglé Comarca.
Carlos Chavéz, head of the Minsa HIV/AIDS Section, stated the focus is on integrating and strengthening prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up services. The vision is to guarantee timely, free, and quality access for all Panamanians through common policies and regulations.
This move seeks to address a fragmented response that has historically existed between the public ministry and the social security system. Unifying their approaches could streamline patient pathways and improve health outcomes.
“Challenges persist like logistical and service interruptions, inequities in access, and a fragmented response between health subsystems. This limits the efficiency and sustainability of care,” explained Health Minister Fernando Boyd Galindo. [Translated from Spanish]
Overcoming Systemic Fragmentation
The minister’s statement highlights a core issue within Panama’s dual health system. The new plan directly attempts to bridge the operational gap between the Ministry of Health (Minsa) and the Social Security Fund (seguro social).
Officials hope integration will prevent treatment disruptions for patients. It should also optimize the use of medical personnel, medications, and laboratory networks across both institutions. A unified front could significantly enhance the national prevention campaign.
Minister Boyd Galindo emphasized that success hinges on collaboration. He called for joint work between institutions, health professionals, community organizations, civil society, and international partners.
The push for a more cohesive system aligns with broader government efforts to modernize health service delivery. Recent initiatives include new verification processes for medical certificates to combat fraud within the salud para all program.
Panama provides free antiretroviral treatment. Yet the sobering reality, noted in the World AIDS Day context, is that the disease still claims a life in the country every single day. The integrated plan represents a critical attempt to change that statistic by ensuring no one falls through the cracks of a divided system.