Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino launched construction of the nation’s first public veterinary hospital this week. The landmark facility in the Juan Díaz, Panama district represents a 14.1 million balboa investment aimed at expanding access to pet care and strengthening public health safeguards.
Officials from the Presidency confirmed the project start on Wednesday, December 3. They awarded the construction contract to the firm Construction Management Group with an expected completion date set for 2027. This initiative fulfills a key campaign promise from Mulino’s administration.
“With this initial groundbreaking, we are not just starting a construction project. We are keeping a campaign promise and helping to build a more humane, responsible, and compassionate Panama. We continue moving forward with steady steps,” said President José Raúl Mulino. [Translated from Spanish]
The hospital will immediately serve low-income families struggling to afford private veterinary services. Its operational launch is slated for early 2028 following equipment installation and staffing.
Comprehensive Care and National Impact
Designed as a full-service animal medical center, the hospital will provide outpatient consulta externa, emergency services, surgery, hospitalization, and rehabilitation. Diagnostic support will include imaging and laboratory work. Plans show eight consultation rooms staffed by eighteen doctors daily.
This setup allows a projected capacity of 240 daily consultations. Annual patient visits for dogs and cats could reach 95,000. The surgical suite will contain four operating rooms for general procedures plus a dedicated emergency surgery room. Hospitalization wards can accommodate approximately forty animals each day.
More than 181,000 pets in the Panama and San Miguelito districts stand to benefit directly. The hospital will also offer high-volume sterilization services. This addresses a critical gap in affordable preventative veterinary medicine.
Educational Mission and Economic Stimulus
A core function of the new institution involves training future veterinarians. Panama currently lacks dedicated facilities for students to specialize in companion animal care. Those pursuing careers often complete practical internships with farm animals instead.
“In this way, we will contribute to developing specialized talent within our country and provide opportunities for our youth,” President Mulino emphasized. [Translated from Spanish]
The hospital will serve as a primary teaching center for university veterinary programs. It focuses specifically on dog and cat medicine. Officials anticipate the construction and operational phases will generate about 1,200 jobs total. This provides a direct boost to the local economy and creates specialized career paths.
*Hospital de Mascotas inicia construcción, con miras a inaugurar a mediados de 2027*
— Astrid Salazar (@as_salazar) December 3, 2025
El Hospital de Mascotas, una de las obras más esperadas por la ciudadanía, ha comenzado su construcción, dando cumplimiento a una promesa de campaña del presidente de la República,… pic.twitter.com/1b7MI9nc1w
The project’s contractor, construction management group CMG, now begins site work in the Costa Sur area of Juan Díaz. The government framed the investment as a dual-purpose endeavor. It supports animal welfare while also advancing broader public health objectives through controlled pet populations and disease monitoring.
Panama joins a small group of Latin American nations developing state-supported veterinary care networks. The hospital’s progress will be closely watched by animal welfare advocates and public health planners across the region.