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IMPACT OF PATIENT ADVOCACY:
Reinstatement of Rheumatology Emergency Services in Panama (2024–2025)
Panama’s Social Security Hospital (CSS), serving 84% of the population, shut down key rheumatology services in June 2024 due to budget cuts.
This included emergency care doctors, training programs, and consultation services.
The closure led to catastrophic outcomes: one lupus nephritis patient died in July 2024 from inadequate disease management, and a young woman initially turned away from the ER required nearly two months of intensive care hospitalization due to severe illness complications.
How we did it.
- Sent letters to the Social Security Hospitals, and we did not get a response.
- We decided to bring the issue to the most-viewed TV program, where FUNARP, in this segment, discusses medical malpractice, the situation of hospitals in Panama’s public health system, and the consequences of removing rheumatologists from emergency shifts at Social Security Fund hospitals in Panama.
Official acknowledgement of the absence of rheumatology doctors at the country's largest hospital.
Only after being publicly exposed on TV
Social Security Fund Hospitals Website
Reiterating that RMDs patients are being attended, but not by RMD doctors.
Original publication – click here
English translation:
The authorities of the Social Security Fund Hospital (CSS) inform the public of the following:
1- That in the Emergency Service of the Hospital Complex “Dr. Arnulfo Arias Madrid” there is qualified medical staff on duty to attend to rheumatology patients who require urgent care.
2- The Emergency Service is able to guarantee care for these patients at any time and will refer cases to other specialists when warranted.
3- That the matter of the effectiveness of the shifts performed by rheumatology specialists is being reviewed and evaluated administratively due to its financial impact.
Social Security Fund Hospitals Instagram
Instagram publication in response to the TV appearance
Original publication – click here
English translation:
The authorities of the Social Security Fund @csspanama inform the public of the following:
1- That in the Emergency Service of the Hospital Complex “Dr. Arnulfo Arias Madrid” there is qualified medical staff on duty to attend to rheumatology patients who require urgent care.
2- The Emergency Service is able to guarantee care, at any time, for these patients and will refer cases to other specialists when warranted.
3- That the matter of the effectiveness of the shifts performed by rheumatology specialists is being reviewed and evaluated administratively, due to its financial impact.
TV / web news
Reiterating that RMDs patients are being attended, but not by RMD doctors.
Original publication – click here
English translation:
The authorities of the Social Security Fund (CSS) reiterate their commitment to the timely care of patients in the Emergency Service of the Hospital Complex “Dr. Arnulfo Arias Madrid”.
In a recent statement, it was reported that qualified medical staff is available at all times to attend to rheumatology patients who require urgent care.
Economic Outlook in Panama news site
The news about the shortage of rheumatology doctors in the ER was syndicated by other media outlets
Original publication – click here
English translation:
The authorities of the Social Security Fund @csspanama inform the public of the following:
1- That in the Emergency Service of the Hospital Complex “Dr. Arnulfo Arias Madrid” there is qualified medical staff on duty to attend to rheumatology patients who require urgent care.
2- The Emergency Service is able to guarantee care, at any time, for these patients and will refer cases to other specialists when warranted.
3- That the matter of the effectiveness of the shifts performed by rheumatology specialists is being reviewed and evaluated administratively, due to its financial impact.
OUTCOME
- After several letters, the Social Security Fund Hospitals agreed to reinstate the RMD service in ER.
CONCLUSION
- Sustained, multi-platform public advocacy successfully pressured the CSS to reverse its decision.
- Established a closer bond between RMD doctors from the CSS Hospital networks (15 / 19 work on the CSS).