public safety

Health clinics become battlegrounds for gangs

Gangs take advantage of the absence of security at public clinics in the city’s crime hotspots to wage drug and territory wars.

Víctor Arosemena/LA PRENSA

shaky peace: One health center official in Curundú brokered protection from a local gang in exchange for surgical supplies.1074191

Gang violence and robberies at public health centers in the capital’s “red zones” has medical staff, administrators and patients on edge. Staff report witnessing daily shootings between rival gangs posturing for control of the neighborhood or the local drug trade in and around clinics in Panama City, San Miguelito, Chilibre and Alcalde Díaz.

Since government funding for the Caja de Seguro Social (CSS) doesn’t include a provision for security services at the clinics, health staff are left to fend for themselves. And some of them are literally stepping into the line of fire to reclaim the peace, quiet and healing that health centers are intended to provide.

In one center in Curundú, for instance, an administrator negotiated a mafia-style protection agreement with five gangs operating in the community. Under the verbal pact, the health center commits to provide medical care and surgical supplies to gang members in exchange for security guards, in the form of gang members. The administrator who bartered the deal requested to remain anonymous.

Of the 16 health centers located in the so-called “red zones” of the city, for their dubious security and high-incidence of crime, just seven are guarded by the Policía Nacional (PN).

During a tour of the health facilities in question, La Prensa reporters discovered that the staff avoided commenting about gang activity because they feared “reprisals.” Several mentioned that shootings are common at all hours of the day and night.

Another worker at the Curundú clinic reported that patients are often injured in the attacks. Evidence of the violence is seen throughout, in the form of bullet holes in walls, seemingly fresh.

Another health facility in the 24 de Diciembre neighborhood of Tocumen was the scene of a robbery last month. The thieves, who took off with the cash register, were later apprehended by police.

Neither officials from the CSS nor the PN commented on the situation.