Purchases from a Company that was Linked to Minister Fernando Boyd were made by the Ministry of Health

A company in which he was a shareholder for 28 years and from which he disassociated himself two weeks before taking office, the current Minister of Health, Fernando Boyd Galindo, has been participating in purchasing processes in the Ministry of Health (Minsa), where it has managed to win several contracts. Newsroom Panama has been able to document at least two of these purchase processes, with Boyd—a dental surgeon by profession—serving as Minister of Health. These two purchases by the Ministry of Health from the aforementioned company total $1,212,000 between 2024 and 2026.

Panama’s Minister of Health, Fernando Boyd Galindo, is facing public scrutiny and media investigations regarding contracts awarded by the Ministry of Health (MINSA) to Bio Materiales, S.A.

The Specific Concerns and Events Involve:

• Company Ties: Minister Boyd Galindo was a shareholder, vice president, and secretary of Bio Materiales, S.A. (a provider of medical/dental supplies) for 28 years before his term.

• Corporate Divestment: He resigned from his executive positions at the company just two weeks before taking office, although questions have been raised regarding his shares and whether this prevents conflicts of interest.

• MINSA Contracts: Since Boyd Galindo took office, Bio Materiales, S.A. has participated in MINSA purchasing processes and successfully secured several supply contracts with the government.

• Official Response: Minister Boyd Galindo has addressed these concerns by stating that his desinvesment was handled legally and has publicly asserted that his administration “covers up for no one”. He explained that state purchases are now increasingly processed through open, online quotes and that he has taken administrative steps to ensure fairness and transparency across vendors.