The decaying shell of the former Hospital Río Abajo clinic in Panama City’s Parque Lefevre district now serves as a vandalized shelter for homeless individuals. Local residents have raised urgent alarms about the dangerous and unsanitary conditions inside the private property, which closed its medical operations years ago. The situation highlights a growing dispute over responsibility for securing derelict urban buildings.
Visible from the street, the clinic’s deterioration is extensive. Discarded furniture, mattresses, medical gurneys, and what appears to be an old incubator litter the area. Open doors reveal further disarray, including unused oxygen tanks and possible surgical waste. Neighbors report that people have taken up residence inside, transforming a former healthcare facility into a precarious living space.
Community officials have pointed toward private owners and municipal authorities as the responsible parties. The local corregimiento representative’s office stated that events inside the private property fall outside its jurisdiction. The Municipality of Panama City did not provide a spokesperson for comment. The National Police of Panama indicated they cannot enter without authorization because it is private land.
Health Authorities Promise Inspection for Hazardous Waste
In response to inquiries, the Metropolitan Health Directorate announced it will investigate the site. Officials specifically want to verify the clinic underwent a proper closure procedure to ensure no dangerous biomedical waste remains. The director, Ricardo Torres, acknowledged the reports of occupants.
“We can intervene within the installation to verify if there is any type of hazardous waste. We are verifying how the process was carried out at the moment this installation was closed. There really should not be hazardous waste inside, but we are going to make the corresponding coordination with local authorities because we know there are people inside,” said Ricardo Torres, Metropolitan Health Director. [Translated from Spanish]
The regional office of the Ministry of Health (Panama) will lead this inspection effort. Their primary concern is mitigating any public health risk posed by potential biological or chemical contaminants. The presence of people living among the debris complicates this mission and raises immediate safety questions.
Residents of the parque lefevre area are left waiting for action. Their core demand is simple. They want the abandoned clinic secured and cleaned to eliminate the hazard it now represents to the surrounding community. The case underscores a common urban challenge, where shuttered private facilities can become public nuisances if not properly maintained after closing.
With multiple agencies deferring to private ownership and no clear enforcement path, the building’s future remains uncertain. The impending health ministry inspection may be the first step toward a resolution, but long-term solutions will require clearer coordination between property owners, local government, and police. For now, the walls of the old Hospital Río Abajo clinic continue to stand, a stark symbol of neglect in the heart of the neighborhood.