health

Union upset with bill

A draft bill to unify the nation's health care system has been sent to the Presidencia de la Republica amid criticism from a union representing many of the country's doctors.

The president's office noted that extra time will be allowed for organizations to comment on the proposal and for revisions to be made.

A new round of discussions about the proposal is expected to start next week.

But Fernando Castañedas, the leader of the doctor's union Comisión Médica Negociadora Nacional (Comenenal), is not waiting until then to offer his opinion of the draft and the process that led to its creation. He described the proposal as "malicious" because it does not include any provisions that will improve access to medical care.

He also said that Comenenal's attempts to provide input on the legislation have been stymied. President Martín Torrijos never responded to a letter the union sent him asking for a meeting about the proposal, Castañedas said.

The Ministerio de Salud, however, issued a statement yesterday claiming that Comenenal has been involved in the process, and the union's recommendations were incorporated into the draft.

Comenenal members conducted a vigil yesterday at the Iglesia del Carmen to highlight its position on the issue.

The government is looking at consolidating services currently offered by the Caja de Seguro Social and the Ministerio de Salud.