Summary.
The bill amends and adds provisions to Law 136 of March 23, 2020, concerning care for people with diabetes. It adds comprehensive mental health and psychoemotional well-being support to the areas covered by the care program that the Ministry of Health (Ministerio de Salud) and the Social Security Fund (Caja de Seguro Social) would establish to improve these patients’ health. This expands the program provided for in Article 2 of that law.
For disease management, the bill provides that the State, through the Ministry of Health and the Social Security Fund, would promote and support regular self-testing of capillary or interstitial glucose. It calls for information campaigns on how to use portable glucose meters and the benefits of their use, together with mechanisms to help users obtain portable meters and their consumables. It also provides that the most effective treatment be sought for patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes, including continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion devices, test strips, lancets, syringes, pens, monitoring sensors, and other devices needed to administer treatment and manage the disease.
The bill establishes Regional Comprehensive Type 1 Diabetes Care Clinics. Their teams would include endocrinologists, pediatric endocrinology physicians, nutritionists, psychologists, diabetes educators, and social workers. This measure would be inserted as a new article in Law 136 of March 23, 2020.
In education, the Ministry of Education (Ministerio de Educación) would have to ensure that all public and private educational institutions in the Republic of Panama (República de Panamá) have response protocols for hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia and a rapid-acting glucose kit. The bill also provides for ongoing educational campaigns to identify warning signs, encourage adherence to treatment, teach emergency procedures at home, at school, and in the community, and foster patients’ ability to manage their condition. The listed warning signs are polyuria, polydipsia, polyphagia, and weight loss.
The bill further grants low-income families a right to state subsidies to obtain continuous monitoring devices, insulin pumps, and other necessary technological supplies. It creates the National Register of People with Diabetes, administered by the Ministry of Health, covering minors and adults with type 1 diabetes and people with type 2 diabetes. The register would serve planning, statistical monitoring, and improvement of patient care. The State would also provide free psychological support and guidance programs for children, adolescents, and their families to encourage treatment adherence and quality of life.
The final provisions identify the amendments and additions to the cited law, direct the Executive Branch (Órgano Ejecutivo) to prepare a consolidated text, and set entry into force upon promulgation. The measures concern the Ministry of Health, the Social Security Fund, and the Ministry of Education, as well as educational institutions, health professionals, people with diabetes, and their families.
What it proposes.
- Comprehensive care for people with diabetes.
- Glucose self-testing and access to devices and supplies.
- Diabetes care in educational institutions.
- Subsidies, patient registration, and psychological support.
Who it would affect.
- People with type 1 and type 2 diabetes.
- Children, adolescents, and low-income families covered by the proposed measures.
- Public and private educational institutions.
- Health and education authorities responsible for the measures.
Key points.
- Adds comprehensive mental health and psychoemotional well-being support to the diabetes care program.Art. 1
- Provides for glucose self-testing, campaigns on glucose meters, and mechanisms for access to meters, consumables, and treatment devices.Art. 2
- Establishes Regional Comprehensive Type 1 Diabetes Care Clinics staffed by medical, nutrition, psychology, diabetes education, and social work professionals.Art. 3
- Requires response protocols, a rapid-acting glucose kit, and ongoing educational campaigns in public and private educational institutions.Art. 4
- Grants subsidies to low-income families, creates a national register of people with diabetes, and provides free psychological support for children, adolescents, and their families.Art. 5
- Identifies the amendments and additions to the law, directs the preparation of a consolidated text, and sets entry into force upon promulgation.Arts. 8-10