Panama poison victims continue 5-year fight for compensation

Victims of Panama’s diethyline glycol poisoning scandal want pensions that cover not only wages but the damages suffered.

The chairman of the Committee of Relatives and Patients for the Right to Health and Life, Gabriel Pascual said that a proposed annuity offered by the authorities of the Social Security Fund (CSS) to the National Assembly, referred only to the issue of wages and not the damage suffered by the victims.

"We hope that the days change for the better and give us a dignified and decent pension ranging from $500 to $ 2,500, based on monthly expensesincurred by patients," said Pascual. on TVN News on Tuesday August 14.  The amount could change, he said,  if there is a real commitment from the authorities to provide medicines, treatments and specialized tests that are needed
Pascual said that they have met with Deputy Mario Lazarus, president of the Health Committee of the National Assembly, to express to concern over the proposal of the authorities, for victims to sign a release form that prevents them from taking take legal action against those found guilty when the Supreme Court gives its verdict.
More than 219 people were confirmed to have died from taking cough syrup containing diethyline glycol, prepared and distributed by the CSS,
Hundreds more were taken seriously ill. The final death toll may never be known. Diethyline glycol is used in anti-freeze.
Victims and relatives have been struggling for over five years to get their call for compensation resolved.