Representatives from Panama’s Ministry of Health and national authorities recently met with international cooperative leaders to address key challenges in universal health systems, medicines supply chain and care provision. The session was co-chaired by IHCO president Carlos Zarco and Cooperativas de las Américas president José Alves.
The event was hosted jointly by the Panamanian National Institute for Cooperatives (IPACOOP), a governmental body dedicated to promoting cooperatives in Panama, and the regional organisation Cooperativas de las Américas. The objective was to connect public health authorities with health cooperative enterprises to explore opportunities for technical assistance and cooperation to strengthen national entrepreneurship, exchange international knowledge, and explore investment mechanisms for business development.
Health, social, and care cooperatives from Panama, Brazil, Spain, Argentina, Italy, and the Philippines presented practical solutions and operational models. By connecting governments and health cooperatives, the gathering established vital pathways for technical cooperation and sustainable healthcare development.