Panama: Poverty despite Economic Growth

from Prensa Latina

Panama, Feb 1 (Prensa Latina) Despite Panama s high economic growth, poverty and unemployment continue at high levels the National Council of Organized Workers (CONATO) coordinator Rafael Chavarria denounced on Thursday.

The union leader pointed out that the GDP increase does not mean an improvement in the situation of the citizens.

According to Chavarria, the constant economic growth of the country during the last years has had a corresponding permanent poverty, affecting 40 percent of the population.

The CONATO leader also called on the government to tackle necessary health reform with all sectors of the country not just officials and doctors -- following the deaths of 50 people from toxic medication.