Panama approves 'Oncological Oblivion' law to end cancer survivor discrimination

Panama's National Assembly has given its final approval to the "Oncological Oblivion" law, a significant piece of legislation designed to protect cancer survivors from financial and labor discrimination. The bill, which passed in its third debate with unanimous support, now awaits President José Raúl Mulino's sanction to become law.

The core of the "Oncological Oblivion" law establishes a right for cancer survivors to cease disclosing their medical history after a specified period. Specifically, individuals will no longer be obligated to declare a past cancer diagnosis when applying for certain services, provided they have completed treatment and remained in remission for five years without relapse.

This measure aims to dismantle barriers that cancer survivors often face when seeking insurance, loans, financial products, and banking services. Under the new law, financial institutions will be prohibited from using a cancer survivor's past medical history to impose more burdensome conditions, exclusions, or discriminatory practices. The goal is to facilitate the full economic and social reintegration of individuals who have overcome the disease.

The "Oncological Oblivion" concept is gaining traction regionally. Panama's move follows similar legislative actions in Chile, which enacted a law in 2024 recognizing this right after a five-year remission period, and Colombia, which adopted legislation with differentiated timelines in 2025. With the approval of Bill 350, Panama joins these nations in offering enhanced protection to cancer survivors, grounded in the principle of equality and the right to a fresh start.