The U.S. government will expand medical assistance in Panama during 2026 by deploying more teams to provide primary, specialized, and veterinary care to benefit 10,000 patients, as detailed this Friday by the country's embassy after donating medicines. The U.S. Ambassador to Panama, Kevin Cabrera, and Panama's Minister of Health, Fernando Boyd, received 4,000 pounds (1,800 kg) of medicines donated by the U.S. Southern Command, days after a medical team from the same military dependency arrived in the Central American country to rotate through various health centers, as reported by the diplomatic delegation last Tuesday. "These medicines will treat hypertension, diabetes, infections, and pain for thousands of Panamanians," said the U.S. ambassador this Friday. "Under President (Donald) Trump, we are eliminating inflated NGOs and bureaucratic intermediaries to put resources directly into the hands of Panamanian doctors and patients." While our rotating medical teams will continue to expand care to over 10,000 people across the country in 2026 through this program, which lasts 11 months to benefit 27 communities, after welcoming a medical team from the Southern Command to work in two public hospitals. The announcement came during the official delivery of medicines and medical supplies valued at $75,000, provided by the U.S. Southern Command directly to the Ministry of Health (MINSA) of Panama, highlights the communiqué. This increase in medical cooperation comes after both countries signed a security cooperation agreement in April that initially generated some controversy in the Central American country by increasing temporary and rotational U.S. military presence. That agreement was signed after the U.S. president expressed his intention to regain control over the Panama Canal, which is in the hands of the U.S. "This efficient and results-oriented cooperation, through the 'Together for Health' initiative, reflects the strength of the partnership between the United States and Panama," added the embassy. The United States, through the 'Together for Health' initiative, will be 'expanding medical assistance during 2026 by deploying U.S. medical teams in 27 localities in Panama to provide primary, specialized, preventive, dental, and veterinary support,' states an official communiqué. The Panamanian government and the ambassador had already informed this week about the greater U.S. medical presence, not seen since 1999, to counter the 'malign influence' of China in the interoceanic passage, a version always rejected by the government of Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino.
