CSS Clarifies the Irma de Lourdes Tzanetato Hospital Situation and Rejects Political Campaigning in Hospitals
The Social Security Fund, known as CSS, rejected any political campaigning inside hospitals and said its current administration is working progressively and responsibly to address service shortcomings with the resources available. The statement came as officials clarified the situation at the Irma de Lourdes Tzanetato hospital pictured below, amid public attention over the use of health facilities for political activity. CSS made clear that hospital spaces must remain focused on patient care and that political promotion has no place in those settings. The institution emphasized that its management is addressing existing deficiencies step by step, within the limits of available resources.
That position places the emphasis on continuity of care and institutional order at a time when public health services remain under scrutiny. In Panama, hospitals and clinics are expected to operate as neutral spaces dedicated to treatment, recovery, and emergency attention. Public hospitals serve thousands of people across the country, making their proper use a matter of both service delivery and public trust. Any appearance of political activity inside these facilities can raise concerns about priorities, access, and the professionalism of staff and administrators. By rejecting campaigning in hospitals, CSS is reinforcing the idea that health institutions should remain separate from partisan activity.
The clarification also signals an effort to manage public perception while confronting long-standing operational needs in the health system. The statement reflects a broader challenge in Panama’s public health sector: improving services while working within budget and infrastructure constraints. CSS framed its approach as gradual rather than immediate, suggesting a focus on steady administrative correction rather than quick fixes. For patients and families, the message underscores that hospitals should be places of care, not political competition. For the institution, it is also a reminder that transparency and discipline inside health facilities are essential to maintaining confidence in the system.
