Bill 599.

Summary.

The bill proposes to recognize cervical cancer as a disease of public interest and establish a framework in the Republic of Panama for prevention, early detection, comprehensive care, treatment, rehabilitation and control. It directs the Ministry of Health (Ministerio de Salud), in coordination with the Social Security Fund (Caja de Seguro Social) and with support from nonprofit organizations involved in cancer prevention and care, to maintain and strengthen vaccination against the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) under current technical standards. It also establishes a national catch-up strategy for women up to thirty-five (35) years of age who have not begun their vaccination schedule. The competent authorities would provide the necessary personnel and supplies, prioritize residents of rural areas, indigenous regions and hard-to-reach areas, and implement the strategy within twelve (12) months of the law’s regulations.

Prevention, screening, diagnosis and treatment procedures would protect women’s dignity, privacy and intercultural needs. The Ministry of Health and the Social Security Fund would facilitate timely and progressively expanded access to screening tests suited to each population, in accordance with health authority guidelines. Women diagnosed with cervical cancer would be entitled to comprehensive, dignified, continuous and quality care within the public health system. The bill calls for stronger staffing and continuing training for technical and professional personnel involved in prevention, diagnosis, treatment, patient navigation and follow-up, covering clinical matters and compassionate care. Both institutions would take measures to prevent administrative or financial interruptions to treatment and clinical follow-up. Care and follow-up measures would prioritize women in rural areas, indigenous regions and hard-to-reach areas.

The Ministry of Health, in coordination with the Social Security Fund (Caja del Seguro Social) and with support from nonprofit organizations, would establish patient navigation mechanisms for women with abnormal screening results or a confirmed cervical cancer diagnosis. Together with the Ministry of Education (Ministerio de Educación), it would develop education, information and awareness programs for the general population, prioritizing those at greater risk. Health authorities would strengthen information systems, registries and epidemiological surveillance. The Ministry of Health and the Social Security Fund would prepare annual public reports on prevention and control measures, for publication within the first three months of each year.

The State would maintain a unified digital platform, implemented progressively according to available technology and funding, while protecting personal data and medical confidentiality. The platform would manage screening appointments, provide secure access to results, automatically arrange referrals and follow-up appointments after abnormal results, offer medical guidance and help coordinate health services. It would also record and monitor aggregated, anonymous information on vaccination, screening, results communicated to patients, confirmed diagnoses, treatment starts and follow-up. The Executive Branch (Órgano Ejecutivo) would issue regulations within six (6) months of promulgation, when the proposed law would also take effect. The bill concerns the Ministry of Health, the Social Security Fund and the Ministry of Education, and could affect public health system users, health personnel and nonprofit organizations working in cancer prevention and care.