Medical Off work certificates on sale at $5

 AN INVESTIGATION into the issuing of “incapacity certificates” to patients who do not qualify has uncovered at least three private clinics in Panama city where they are for sale.

After a tour of various sectors of the city center, La Prensa investigators were able to acquire certificates, signed and sealed by a physician knowing that the petitioner was not sick, for as little as $5.

In some clinics, with the approval of the clinicians, secretaries or nurses are issuing certificates that allow workers to stay away from their jobs using the document, which affects the finances of the Social Security Fund and business productivity.
It is widely believed that the examples are the tip of the iceberg in Panama.
The National Association of Human Resources Professionals Panama (Anreh) recognizes that its members often receive such certificates from employees, and are calling for better review of the documents.
The Ministry of Health has with $500 penalties for doctors involved and after three strikes can bring the revocation of the physician’s license to practice,
But says La Prensa the minister of Health, Javier Diaz, admits that during his tenure no medical professional has been punished for this type of action.