The current CSS Administration: a feast of sloth and scandals

Publicado 2016/05/13 07:15:00

Redacción/nacion.pa@epasa.com/@PanamaAmerica

The current administration of the CSS, whose director is Estivenson Giron, has been entangled in an increasing number of cases of ineptitude and corruption. The list of problems is long and getting longer by the day. It ranges from failures in basic services such as the provision of medicines and the execution of surgeries; to cases of alleged corruption, such as the unjustified purchases of luxury cars, or the multi-year leasing of ambulance equipment at exorbitant cost.

Mr.Giron has been emphatic in his rejection of any criticism that he lacks the administrative skills to manage the CSS. “The services that we provide are not perfect, but we do our best: when you service 3.4m people, you are bound to have dissatisfied users” he said in his own defense. Regrettably, to many Panamanians the failures of the CSS are a tragic daily reality.

But there are signs that Mr. Giron’s pleas for patience and understanding are no longer cutting it. Multiple voices are demanding his resignation, including former CSS director Juan Jovane, as well as the representative of the Committee for Protection of Patients and their Family Members, Roger Bares.