Panama paramedics protest for labor reclassification, better ambulance services

Paramedics and emergency medical technicians took to the streets of Panama City, marching to the National Assembly to demand action on overdue labor reclassification and critical operational failures within the pre-hospital care system. The procession, joined by nurses and auxiliary technicians, moved along Central Avenue towards Casco Antiguo.

Demonstrators reiterated their call for officials to officially recognize the professional status of emergency technicians and licensed professionals, a right affirmed by a law passed in 2023. Beyond salary and career advancement demands, the group highlighted a severe infrastructure crisis directly affecting patient transport.

According to union spokespeople, some national health facilities have trained staff but no emergency vehicles, while others have ambulances parked due to a lack of appointed personnel. José Lezcano, vice president of the National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians, described the dire situation to the Assembly's Health Commission. "We have critical patients being treated at home who wait two to three hours for paramedics to transfer them to the hospital. This is a critical situation," he stated.

Lezcano also questioned the Ministry of Health's spending on private ambulance tenders, suggesting resource mismanagement. While new units for the 911 system are expected by November, he noted this would only offer a temporary fix for national emergency response. The unions vowed to continue their protests until definitive solutions are secured, ensuring worker stability and efficient emergency care for citizens.