Investigation of swabs scandal ongoing
The National Authority for Transparency and Access to Information (Antai) reports that 11 procedures have been carried out related to the case of swabs administered to travelers to the island of Taboga.
Elsa Fernández, general director of Antai, recalled that this investigation began due to a case of conflict of interest, which is clearly detailed in article No. 39 of the Code of Ethics for Public Servants.
The first proceedings of the Antai were carried out on August 19 and consisted of five eye inspections in the Ministry of Health (Minsa), Public Registry, Civil Registry, the Gorgas Memorial Institute, and in Sermedic Panama.
The objective of these proceedings was to collect relevant information for the investigation that was initiated ex officio for the complaints filed about the swab test as a requirement to travel to six islands in the Panamanian Pacific, especially Taboga.
This Monday it was reported that Sermedic Panama established a swab center in the Amador area without having the approval of the Technical Health Council to carry out laboratory tests.
Sermedic is owned by Ana Lorena Chang Chevalier, who until August 19 served as the regional head of Public Health and was separated from the position by the Minsa.
The laboratory of the Sermedic Panama clinic is also owned by the former national head of Epidemiology of the Minsa Leonardo Labrador Chávez, who is Chang’s husband and was separated from his position on August 19.
Fernández indicated that Antai, together with the Directorate of Judicial Investigation, carried out a visual inspection at the Taboga docks on Saturday, August 21. “We needed to corroborate that this company will not continue to provide a service for which it was not authorized,” he added.
He said that on Monday, proceedings were carried out again at the Ministry of Health and the Civil Registry, which was the second in both entities.
The official clarified that they have a clear roadmap for the inspections that will be carried out this week.
