[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”!! PLEASE DO NOT EDIT !!!” _builder_version=”4.19.5″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row use_custom_gutter=”on” gutter_width=”1″ admin_label=”!!! PLEASE DO NOT EDIT !!!” _builder_version=”4.20.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.19.5″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text admin_label=”TEXT – BLOCK 1″ _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”||1em||false|false” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n
The public, social security and private sectors combine to make up the health system in Panama<\/a>. The public sector is financed through general and earmarked taxes. The Ministry of Health (MINSA)<\/a> manages these resources and coordinates public health services. Social security, administered by the Social Security Fund (CSS)<\/a>, 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.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][ba_gradient_heading title=”Persistently high out-of-pocket health expenditure” html_tag=”h3″ primary_color=”#455A64″ secondary_color=”#455A64″ admin_label=”HEADING (50-60 characters)” _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” title_font=”||||||||” title_font_size=”26px” title_line_height=”1em” custom_padding=”||10px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/ba_gradient_heading][et_pb_text admin_label=”TEXT – BLOCK 2 ” _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”||1em||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”]Public health expenditure accounted for 5.86% of GDP in 2020<\/a>, a figure that is very close to the 6% recommended by the Pan American Health Organization, and 21.7% of total public expenditure by 2021. Catastrophic health expenditure was estimated at 6.2% in 2017. [1]<\/a><\/sup>The UHC service coverage index for 2021 was 78.2.[2]<\/a><\/sup>[\/et_pb_text][ba_gradient_heading title=”Health system fragmentation” html_tag=”h3″ primary_color=”#455A64″ secondary_color=”#455A64″ admin_label=” HEADING (50-60 characters)” _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” title_font=”||||||||” title_font_size=”26px” title_line_height=”1em” custom_padding=”||10px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/ba_gradient_heading][et_pb_text admin_label=”TEXT – BLOCK 3″ _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”||1em||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Panama\u2019s health policy and strategic guidelines 2016-2025<\/a> 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.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”TEXT – BLOCK 9 – Footnotes” _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” text_font_size=”13px” custom_margin=”20px||||false|false” custom_padding=”||||false|false” custom_css_main_element=”a{color:#4c7e96 }” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n References<\/strong><\/p>\n [1]<\/span> World Health Organization, Global Health Expenditure Database, Indicators and Data<\/a> (choose country) <\/span><\/p>\n