Ruling party fake pediatrician gets impunity umbrella

While members of the ruling Panamenista Party  prepare to cast their votes in the weekend primaries as the country  prepares for the 2019 elections there is a rising swell of criticism over a recent court decision granting what is seen as impunity  for a party member who without qualifications  practiced as  a pediatrician  and gained a  cozy desk job in the Ministry of  Health, but avoided jail time .

The fake doctor, Grimaldo Córdoba, will only have to pay a fine of $6, 000 for deceiving parents an treating caring for children without having medical qualifications.

José Alba, a member of the Board of Directors of the Social Security Fund (CSS), described the replacement of a three-and-a-half years prison sentence with a $6,000 fine as a “bucket of cold water” on the community. and added that the whole weight of the justice system should have fallen on  Córdoba, especially when in his practices he could affect the children he attended.

“Unfortunately our justice system is deteriorating, and citizens are tired of these actions, “said Alba.

Córdoba, who is a member of the Panameñista party, requested a replacement of his prison sentence with a fine.

University Professor and ex-director of the CSS, Juan Jované said that this was a very serious crime, not only against public faith but because of the health risk of the children.

“This is the living example of a justice that is not neutral, it is a justice that has preference. You just have to think about the political affinity of the person to realize that unfortunately in Panama there is no balanced justice, “said  Jované

The former director of the National Oncology Institute and current president of the Broad Front for Democracy (FAD), Fernando Cebamanos, believe that impunity was given to Córdoba.

‘This seems offensive to Panamanian society, he must pay for risking the lives of people with his irresponsibility. He t should not benefit from the impunity that this Government is giving to him, another act of corruption, benefited by a particular party.” he said.

“I am also struck by the fact that the medical association has not started a legal action for the serious practices, this man was freely exercising. This is serious,’ he said.

Córdoba,, worked as doctor and director of Health Promotion of the Ministry of Health (Minsa), for six months until January 2015, when resigned from office, after it was revealed that he did not have a university medical  degree

At the end of July, this year  Judge Enrique Pérez, replaced the sentence with the payment of a  300 days fine, at the rate of $20 per day, which must be paid in six months.