Incentive pay for medical specialists would cost $13-$14 million

PRESIDENT RICARDO MARTINELLI told journalists Thursday, October 3,  that the pay incentives for medical specialists to work in the Interior would be $10 million, but later said $13-$14 million. He did not say where the money would be found.

Meanwhile, protests across the country expanded as organizations representing doctors, nurses and technicians, reacted to Martinelli’s Wednesday comments. They reject Act 69 which allows the hiring of foreign specialists.

The question about costs came after Wednesday’s announcement that a financial incentive would be given to specialists ready to work in rural areas.
Martinelli did not say if the monetary incentive depends on the area in which they are located. "There is no way we're doing a hospital in Bocas del Toro and no doctors," he said.
He added that it is proposed to continue to increase the number of scholarships awarded to Panamanian residents, to go abroad to specialize.
He said that for three years he has asked the media to help to encourage physicians to specialize, due to the construction of several hospitals in the country, says La Prensa.
Martinelli also asked politicians to stay clear of health sector unions and said that Wednesday’s, protest march included a lot of politicians.
It is reported that the Minister of Economy and Finance, Frank De Lima, included the incentive item in the 2014 budget, since it has not been closed.