The administration of the Social Security Fund (CSS) is reformulating the budget for fiscal year 2023, since it is in the midst of a budget cut that would affect the operation and functioning of the institution, as was announced by the authorities of the entity, during the support of the funds before the parliamentarians of the Budget Commission of the National Assembly and the team of the Ministry of Economy and Finance.
The CSS requested from the MEF a budget of 7 thousand 28 million dollars for 2023, however, in said amount there was a reduction of 451 million balboas in different items such as: medicines, hemodialysis, medical supplies, teleradiology, constructions, benefits of old age, among others, explained the Lcdo. Edwin Rodríguez, deputy director general of the Social Security Fund.
Alex González, national executive director of the institution’s Health Services and Benefits, mentioned that part of the important issues within the budget are the investment projects for the San Miguelito district, for example, the new San Antonio polyclinic, which The Wellness Centers, the Cardiometabolic Clinics and the modern polyclinic of Las Cumbres, in North Panama, have already been tendered and awarded, which will have a new Hemodialysis room with 30 new chairs to meet the demand of patients, which increases every year.
While Miguel Ángel Edwards, worker representative before the Board of Directors of the CSS, pointed out that cutting the institution’s budget will greatly impact areas as sensitive as the supply of medicines, hemodialysis service and other areas for well-being and health, essential for the population.
Meanwhile, Enrique Montenegro, coordinator of the National Council of Organized Workers (CONATO), mentioned that his participation before the Budget Commission of the National Assembly was based on supporting the CSS so that it has the funds and continues with the operation of the services and programs carried out by the institution, which are of the utmost importance for the insured and the citizenry
