The public, social security and private sectors combine to make up the health system in Panama. The public sector is financed through general and earmarked taxes. The Ministry of Health (MINSA) manages these resources and coordinates public health services. Social security, administered by the Social Security Fund (CSS), is financed by employer and employee contributions and provides comprehensive coverage to their insured population, including medical care, disability and pensions. The private sector includes insurers and health service providers that operate through direct payments or through voluntary private insurance.
Persistently high out-of-pocket health expenditure
Health system fragmentation
Panama’s health policy and strategic guidelines 2016-2025 outlines the actions to be taken to tackle the challenges the health system faces. They include regional funding inequalities and fragmentation, and a lack of effective and sustainable coordination between MINSA and CSS that prevents the consolidation of an integrated and efficient system.
References
[1] World Health Organization, Global Health Expenditure Database, Indicators and Data (choose country)
[2] World Health Organization, Health Financing and Economics, WHO Health Financing Dashboard (choose country)
