Panama: Public Private Partnership Bill Withdrawn from Congress

The announcement was viewed positively by hospital leaders who stopped work on 20 October in protest at the proposed law.

Panama's medical associations oppose the bill, saying that its effect will be to privatize the country's health services, since the proposal includes, "concessions for hospitals to be built, as well as roads, ports and drinking and waste water management systems".

Néstor Vega, president of the Association of Medical Specialists located at the Santo Tomás Hospital (HST) commented to Prensa.com that for the work stoppage to end the government must clarify what will happen as a result of bill 349.

Source: Prensa.com

More on this topic

Public Private Partnership Bill Stalls

October 2011

In Panama, medical professionals, who have now been on strike for a week, have opposed the project, forcing the legislative process to be suspended, until a consensus can be reached.


The main concept of the bill is that, in contrast to the traditional scheme, where companies are simply contracted by the State for the construction or development of public works, under the adoption of the PPP regime, the private sector would play a greater role in projects, funding the work and then receiving payment for the provision of services, on long-term contracts.

Public-private Partnership Law in Panama

June 2011

The government wants the private sector to be more involved in the development of infrastructure and services normally provided by the state.

The project to draft the law establishing a system of public-private partnership (PPP) is now being studied by the Panamanian National Assembly.

Panama Presents Public-Private Partnership Scheme

April 2011

The Ministry of Economy submitted to the Assembly a draft law creating a system of Public-Private Partnership (APP in Spanish).

The APP is an alternative to the execution of works or public services that have traditionally been carried out by the state.

The scheme works by making contracts between the public and private sector, in which the latter constructs, finances, operates and maintains infrastructure or provide services.

El Salvador: 40-year Contracts for Public-Private Partnership

May 2011

The bill submitted by the Government proposes a term not exceeding 40 years, including extensions, for public-private contracts.

The government is seeking to encourage private participation in infrastructure with the new law on Public-Private Partnerships (PPP).

The proposal includes three types of contracts for the PPP: