The third Monday in July Carnival of Latin America and the Caribbean

PANAMA
Panama’s economy
A Singapore for Central America?
Latin America’s fastest-growing country has set its sights high. First it needs a government as impressive as its economy

PUERTO RICO
Casey Anthony could be heading to Puerto Rico after release
“It makes sense, Jose Baez is from Puerto Rico, he has got a whole Spanish community there…” Aphrodite Jones

VENEZUELA
Chávez Foe Convicted Over Remarks

Venezuelan gov’t retakes prison after weeks-long standoff

Prisons in Venezuela
The fifth circle of hell
An inmates’ mutiny highlights violence and overcrowding

Venezuela’s Docs Flee—So Does Chávez
It’s no coincidence that the president has returned to Cuba for medical attention.

Chávez-nomics has been even more devastating for doctors in the public hospitals. Dr. Douglas León Natera of the Venezuelan Medical Federation (FMV) told El Universal on June 16 that doctors earn a mere 2,600 bolivars (roughly $325 at the market exchange rate) monthly, and that even though hospitals have become targets of the country’s rising crime, the government has failed to provide protection for health-care staff. Doctors also cite scarce and low-quality resources and long hours. On June 30 the FMV called a strike to protest low pay and arduous working conditions. Last week Mr. Chávez offered them a 30% raise. They refused to yield. They are, however, continuing to treat urgent cases.

Pharmaceutical importers have been reluctant to complain publicly about their difficulties; large companies that offend Mr. Chávez can become targets of nationalization. It’s a bit more difficult to nationalize a doctor. A strike is just one option. Many of Venezuela’s best doctors have fled the country, which explains how it is, according to the FMV, that in public hospitals there are 130,000 patients waiting for surgery.

In its 2010 annual report, the ministry of health acknowledged the shortage of doctors, particularly in specialties such as anesthesiology, neonatal care, cardiovascular surgery, neurosurgery and child cardiology. Private hospitals are also deteriorating now as the poor turn up for care with government medical insurance, but the insurer doesn’t fulfill its obligation to pay.

In Venezuela, some cancer patients are more equal than others

Preparing for a post-Hugo Venezuela

IMMIGRATION
U.S.-born Mexican-Americans Outnumber New Migrants

The week’s posts,
Chavez going to Cuba, not Brazil, for chemo VIDEO
Chavez heading to Brazil for healthcare?
WaPo notices the Castro-Chavez ties
Cuba’s Misery in Dollar Terms [UPDATED, JM]
Chavez now reading Nietzsche

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