During a meeting at Palacio de las Garzas (government headquarters) with President José Raúl Mulino, the lawmakers suggested that prior to presenting the bill by year’s end, the debate on proposals be discussed at two separate tables: namely one on the Disability, Old Age and Death program; and another on improvements to medical benefits.

They also stressed the need for the Ministry of Health to unify services with the CSS.

To deal with this issue, Mulino has met with heads of political parties, union leaders, businessmen, teachers, doctors and executives from the private sector.

“All proposals are welcome, as long as they have economic support,” explained the president, while reiterating that Social Security will not be privatized, a possibility strongly opposed by grassroots movements.

Next Monday, the head of State will reportedly meet with new director of the CSS, Dino Mon, who will take on the post on October 1, under heavy criticism from social organizations due to his ties with insurance companies and his advocacy of parametric measures, such as raising the retirement age and the employer-employee quota.

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