Panama Government Expands List of Low-Cost Medications with Discounts of up to 95%

The president announced the addition of 80 essential pharmaceuticals with significant discounts. There are now 110 pharmacies distributing affordable treatments for chronic and common illnesses.  President José Raúl Mulino announced this Thursday, June 12, the expansion of the list of medications included in the low-cost access program, adding 80 new drugs to the 60 previously presented. In total, Panamanians will now be able to access 140 essential medications with discounts ranging from 52% to 95%, as detailed by the president at his weekly press conference.  “We are expanding access to necessary treatments at prices people can actually afford,” Mulino said. “We already have 110 pharmacies open, and we will soon take the next step for those in need.”

An Outstanding Debt with Patients

Panama has faced strong public criticism for years over its high drug prices, considered among the highest in Latin America. The lack of effective regulation, the concentration of importers and distributors, and limited market alternatives have made basic products unaffordable for thousands of people, especially those with chronic illnesses or low-income families.  In this context, the government prioritized the implementation of a system of subsidized and price-controlled medications. The first phase was presented in mid-May, when an initial list of 60 medications available in pharmacies run by the Ministry of Health and the Social Security Fund was released, with discounts of up to 80%. 

The first drugs added to this list include treatments for hypertension, diabetes, respiratory illnesses, antibiotics, painkillers, and mental health. These include: Amlodipine 5 mg, Atenolol 100 mg, Enalapril 20 mg, Irbesartan 300 mg, Indapamide 1.5 mg, and Perindopril 5 mg.  Now, with the addition of 80 additional drugs, the measure covers a broader spectrum of treatments, including antibiotics, antidiabetics, antihypertensives, and painkillers.  Among them were: Amoxicillin 500 mg, Calamine 10/20 ml, Captopril 70 mg, Clopidogrel 75 mg and Clindamycin 300 mg.

Discounts of up to 95%

Among the products with the largest price reductions is the 10 ml NPH insulin, which normally costs 25 balboas in private pharmacies and can now be purchased for $2.50, representing a 90% discount. Another significant example is the 500 mg cephalexin, a commonly prescribed antibiotic, whose new price is just 10 cents, equivalent to 88% less than its retail price.  The president also mentioned that there are currently 110 pharmacies authorized to distribute these medications throughout the country, and that the plan is to further expand the access network. “We will soon take a step further for those who need it,” he stated, without elaborating on whether this will include home delivery, new partnerships with private pharmacies, or distribution in rural areas.