Panama Uses Drones to Bring Medicine to Remote Indigenous Communities

By De Puy & Asociados

On November 24, Panama's Ministry of Health (MINSA) and the Ministry of Public Security (MINSEG) signed an Interinstitutional Cooperation Agreement to use drones to transport medicines and health supplies. The signing took place at the Ministry of Health Auditorium in Panama City, in the presence of PAHO's representative to Panama, Dr. Ana Rivière Cinnamond.

The initiative focuses on the Ngäbe Buglé region, an indigenous territory where residents routinely travel for hours — on foot, by car, and by boat — to access basic medical care. This physical barrier can mean the difference between life and death. 

The project directly addresses key diseases such as malaria, HIV/AIDS, syphilis, and tuberculosis, whose diagnosis and timely medical response depend on efficient logistics. 

Under the agreement, the Ministry of Public Security, through the National Aeronaval Service (SENAN), will take on the role of coordinating logistics and operations, ensuring the safety, privacy, and feasibility of using airspace for health purposes. MINSA, for its part, will integrate the initiative into the national health system and ensure that supply operations are incorporated into national information systems. 

The medical drone is currently located in Rambála, Bocas del Toro, where essential flight tests are being carried out. Four pilots — two from the National Aeronaval Service and two civilians — are receiving specialized training. 

Panama officially registered the drone with the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) in August 2025, a step that legitimized the aircraft as a health resource. Air corridors for transporting medicines, tests, and health supplies have already been identified and designed. 

The project receives financial and strategic support from the Barça Foundation, the social entity of FC Barcelona, which acts not only as a funder but as a development partner focused on equity and inclusion. 

The initiative aligns with Panama's National Health Policy 2016–2025, the National Strategy for the Digital Transformation of the Health Sector, and Panama's National Plan 2025–2032 for the elimination of multiple communicable diseases.