Panama Boosts Cancer Control With IAEA Mission

A team of international experts led by the IAEA identified opportunities to strengthen specialized oncology training and enhance coordination in Panama's health sector, following a weeklong imPACT Review mission in the country coordinated by the Panamanian Ministry of Health.

The team, nominated by the IAEA, the World Health Organization (WHO) and International Agency for Cancer Research (IARC), visited eleven health facilities across the five provinces of Panama, Chiriquí, Veraguas, Herrera, and Los Santos, and held a national planning meeting with over 80 participants, including representatives from public and private health facilities.

The imPACT review mission aligns with the IAEA's Rays of Hope initiative, a global effort to reduce inequalities in cancer treatment by strengthening radiotherapy and diagnostic capacities. Through the initiative, Panama benefits from technical expertise, training and support critical infrastructure. The Review will inform actions to strengthen cancer control in the country, including workforce development.

Panama's Minister of Health Fernando Boyd Galindo underscored the need to strengthen cancer control and his country's commitment to this goal. "Cancer remains a major cause of death and suffering in our country, especially among vulnerable populations," he said.

According to the International Agency for Research on cancer, Panama recorded over 8,300 new cancer cases and 3,770 deaths in 2022. Among men, prostate cancer accounts for over one‑third of all new cases, followed by colorectal and stomach cancers. Among women, breast cancer represents more than a quarter of cases, followed by colorectal and cervical cancers.

With an aging population and continued exposure to major risk factors - including unhealthy diets, physical inactivity, and tobacco use - cancer remains a public health challenge. Projections show a further rise in cases by 2030, placing mounting strain on Panama's health system and making it increasingly important to strengthen prevention, early detection and timely access to care.

The team reviewed Panama's capacities and needs across cancer control, including governance, infrastructure, human resources, and surveillance.

Findings identified strengths in cancer care, such as a modern diagnostic and treatment infrastructure, a committed health workforce, and a legal framework to address the disease, anchored in the National Cancer Plan 2019-2029.

At the same time, the mission identified several opportunities for growth, including improved coordination between different health subsystems - such as primary care, diagnostic services, and specialized oncology - as well as expanded training in oncology specialties and stronger data systems.

"The imPACT Review was a deep dive into Panama's diagnostic and therapeutic pathways. However, we are not just assessing, we are co-developing solutions, which will help translate Panama's National Cancer Plan into actionable, technical steps that directly impact patient care tomorrow." said Enrique Estrada Lobato, Nuclear Medicine Physician at the IAEA.

Increasing human resource capacities, particularly the number of specialized professionals and their distribution, emerged as a priority, especially in radiotherapy, nuclear medicine, and diagnostic imaging, as Panama moves to decentralize services. Through its technical cooperation and human health programmes, the IAEA is helping to address these gaps through capacity building and expanding access to life-saving radiation medicine services.

A key infrastructure priority is the construction of a radiotherapy bunker in Bugaba, Chiriquí province, which will house a linear accelerator (LINAC) provided by the IAEA under the Rays of Hope initiative. This will be a critical step in expanding access to high-quality cancer treatment in western Panama. Findings and preliminary recommendations from the imPACT Review presented to senior officials call for strengthening national governance and planning, accelerating infrastructure development and expanding regional oncology services. The final report will serve as a roadmap for future development and cooperation in cancer control.