Bill 22.

Summary.

The bill proposes the MINSA-CSS Interinstitutional Program to facilitate early medical diagnoses and timely treatment for people attending primary care centers nationwide. It identifies secondary prevention of disease as the program’s objective, seeking to avert serious and fatal consequences. It also states that all citizens within the territory of the Republic of Panama (República de Panamá) have a right to health and to dignified, timely medical care, and directs the State to ensure the mechanisms, health programs and facilities needed to provide that care.

To establish the program, the bill provides for agreements on economic compensation and the coordination of infrastructure, staff and logistics between the Ministry of Health (Ministerio de Salud) and the Social Security Fund (Caja de Seguro Social). The program would use existing and future infrastructure, medical staff and technological tools at the City of Health (Ciudad de la Salud) and other care centers belonging to the two institutions. It calls for a greater supply of health personnel and effective use of the available hours across all seven (7) days of the week for diagnosis, follow-up and medical results. Both institutions would jointly establish, promote and carry out the agreements and adjustments needed to use their resources. The Executive Branch (Órgano Ejecutivo), through the Ministry of Health and the Social Security Fund (Caja del Seguro Social), would allocate the necessary resources within the State budget.

The bill assigns a specialized team to the City of Health and to every primary and secondary care center nationwide. These teams would coordinate diagnostic and treatment services required in each province of the Republic of Panama through management of the full course of an illness. Where a diagnosis calls for specialized or surgical treatment, coordination would cover access to infrastructure, technological tools and medical staff at the City of Health and other medical centers available nationwide. This care model would begin before diagnosis and include a sequence of medical and administrative activities, a method and procedural protocol, a care plan, follow-up, quality control and targets for each diagnosed illness.

The authorities of MINSA and the Social Security Fund would assess the program’s actions and outcomes by the waiting time measured from submission of a medical order, which must not exceed 15 calendar days. Reports and test results would be provided to patients and sent immediately to the referring physician or treating specialist, so that a definitive diagnosis could be reached within no more than 7 calendar days. The program would incorporate telemedicine, electronic health records, electronic prescriptions and medical orders, and other technological tools. The Ministry of Health would plan, execute, implement and apply the proposed law, while the Executive Branch would issue its regulations. It would take effect on the day after its promulgation.

The bill concerns the Ministry of Health, the Social Security Fund, MINSA and the Executive Branch, and could affect patients, health professionals, and primary and secondary care centers in the Republic of Panama.