In the midst of the health alert decreed due to the danger of an epidemic of influenza A (H1N1), the Minister of Health, Javier Terrientes, has resigned.
Mr. Terrientes submitted his resignation at a time when the Government is subject of criticism for the mismanagement that it has been giving to this issue and to the outcry of the population that has turned to the health centers and polyclinics in search of a vaccine.
This determination of Mr. Terrientes generated a series of concerns among different sectors.
One of them was that by PRD member, Rogelio Paredes, who considered that this resignation is ill-timed given situation the country is living through, while considered that it "is not accidental".
Meanwhile, the Secretary General of Cambio Democrático (CD). Romulo Roux, said "it is unfortunate that he had to come to this, but I already saw this coming. Since Monday, I have been calling for the resignation of the Minister. The management of the health crisis caused by virus A (H1N1) by the authorities has been fatal."
Mr. Roux said that he does not seek to politicize this issue, "because it is a problem that we all should care for as Panamanians, the health and lives of our people is already at risk. But I must say things as they are, the ones suffering is the people when those supposedly responsible for ensuring our health are not doing their job. I reiterate that in view of problems of State we must encourage dialogues and give solutions to the problems of us, Panamanians'.
The Minister's decision comes when there is a collective hysteria among Panamanians, after the death of 18 people by A (H1N1) and more than 600 patients hospitalized with acute respiratory infections.
As things stand, patients in different hospitals in the country were filled with despair at having to wait several hours for the influenza vaccine, or at knowing that, in some centers, they had only 500 or 600 doses, and it was even reported that preference for the relatives of officials of Health was being given.
Former President of the Republic, Ricardo Martinelli referred to the subject ensuring that if it were him, "I would send the presidential plane to search for A (H1N1) vaccines where they are available and save human lives, before the Government´s ineptitude". In view of the anxiety caused by the decrease in the amount of doses against influenza, the Government announced that next Friday, a shipment of 300 thousand shots will be arriving in Panama from France.
At being consulted on the subject, former Deputy Minister of Health, Carlos Abadía, said that at the beginning, no one came to health centers to take the vaccine, but the misinformation of irresponsible people provoked hysteria and all have begun to go, which has caused chaos in centers and polyclinics.
