Health

Union eyes new fight

Now that the doctors' strike has been resolved, the Comisión Médica Negociadora Nacional (Comenenal) is gearing up for a new fight with the government.

This battle will be over the privatization of the country's health care system.

"We will protest against any vestige of privatization," said physician and Comenenal official Domingo Moreno.

The government is looking at potential changes to the health care system that would reduce its involvement in health care.

Doctors oppose that measure, saying it would cut access to health care for many of Panama´s poorest residents. Instead, they are asking the government to invest more resources in health care by upgrading hospitals and hiring more support staff for physicians.

The lack of staff is expected to get worse in the coming months as doctors work overtime to make up for appointments and surgeries postponed because of the strike, which lasted 39 days.

While doctors have pledged to work overtime, they are concerned that there will not be enough support staff available to perform the extra surgeries. Another concern is that there will not be enough surgical supplies.

The nation´s public hospitals and clinics are expected to be swamped today by thousands of people hoping to receive medical care.

It is estimated that it will take at least two months for the backlog of cases to be addressed.