Author: Manuel Antonio Espinosa

For the first time in its history, Ciudad de la Salud in Panama has successfully completed reconstructive urological surgeries using robotic assistance, expanding treatment options for patients with complex conditions. The milestone marks a significant step forward for Panama robotic surgery capabilities and positions the hospital as a growing regional leader in minimally invasive procedures. Three patients underwent successful operations during the visit of a New York-based specialist who worked alongside local surgeons to transfer advanced techniques. New York Expert Transfers Advanced Surgical Expertise Dr. Lee C. Zhao, a distinguished urological reconstructive surgeon from New York with more than two…

Three years ago, a punishing drought slashed more than 2,700 ship transits through the interoceanic waterway and strained drinking water supplies for millions of Panamanians. That crisis now anchors the agenda of Ilya Espino de Marotta, who officially assumed the administrator’s post on Saturday at the helm of Panama Canal leadership. Her swearing-in fell on the 49th anniversary of the Torrijos-Carter Treaties, lending the ceremony deep national significance. A Four-Decade Engineering Journey Espino de Marotta steps into the role after spending 41 years inside the organization, a trajectory that began in June 1985 when she joined as a temporary engineer…

Nearly half a century after the signing of the Panama Canal treaties, the financial picture tells a remarkable story. Since taking full control of the waterway on December 31, 1999, Panamanian administrators have delivered more revenue to the national treasury than the United States contributed during nearly 100 years of operation. That economic reversal, more than any commemorative speech, captures what changed on September 7, 1977, when General Omar Torrijos Herrera and President Jimmy Carter signed the historic agreements at the Organization of American States headquarters in Washington D.C. The anniversary invites more than celebration. Analysts, historians, and Canal administrators…

A fresh push to let Panamanian voters decide the country’s future in the Central American Parliament has emerged in the National Assembly, with an annual price tag of more than $2.3 million at the center of the debate. The Panama plebiscite proposal, reintroduced last week by Deputy Neftalí Zamora, seeks to place a straightforward question before citizens: should the Republic of Panama remain a member of Parlacen or walk away from the regional body altogether. Zamora’s initiative would hand the Electoral Tribunal full responsibility for organizing, financing, and directing the national consultation if the Assembly approves it and the president…

Taxpayers interacting with the Alcaldía Panamá now have a streamlined way to access municipal services online after officials announced a significant change to the city’s digital tax platform. The municipal government confirmed that its Alcaldía Digital system has migrated to a new domain, tributos.pty.gob.pa, replacing the previous web address that residents had grown accustomed to using. This shift arrives as part of a broader effort to simplify how citizens connect with city services and manage their tax obligations from anywhere. Digital Identity Modernization by Alcaldía Panamá The decision to adopt a shorter, more recognizable domain reflects a growing emphasis on…

Thousands of commuters who travel between West Panama and Panama City every weekday could wake up to empty bus stops this week as transport operators weigh their next move. Concessionaires from the Empresa Transportista del Oeste, S.A. (ETOSA) will gather Monday to define their course of action, and a possible Panama bus strike hangs over one of the country’s busiest transit corridors. Operators don’t mince words when describing the impact new fuel prices have had on their bottom line. “The subsidy doesn’t cover anything” [Translated from Spanish] That statement, shared widely across the West Panama transport guild, captures a sector…

Six years after joining more than 130 nations in backing a landmark OECD and G20 initiative, Panama tax policy has undergone a dramatic reversal. The country that once seemed poised to implement a 15 percent minimum tax on large multinational corporations now finds itself watching from the sidelines as global enthusiasm fades and regional neighbors move at their own pace. Finance Minister Felipe Chapman confirmed the shift in stark terms, signaling that the Mulino administration has no immediate plans to advance the levy. The reversal marks a key significant fiscal strategy changes since the original endorsement. The Global Framework and…

The Portobelo church restoration has reached 56 percent completion, a development that brings President José Raúl Mulino back to a promise he made on the campaign trail. Speaking during an inspection visit to the Atlantic coast town, Mulino recalled telling residents before the election that he would restore their beloved San Felipe Church if he won. Now, with tens of workers on site and major structural elements already transformed, that commitment is taking visible shape. Presidential Inspection and Community Employment in Portobelo Mulino walked through the active construction zones on Thursday, stopping to talk with laborers and local residents who…

Leaders from Panama’s private education sector have formally demanded a presidential veto of Bill 415, describing the legislation as part of a troubling wave of populist education laws that could cripple independent schools. Mario Muñoz of the Panamanian Association of Private Educational Centers and Edwin García of the National Chamber of Education and Innovation confirmed they have petitioned President José Raúl Mulino to reject the measure proposed by Deputy Ernesto Cedeño. The bill, according to both organizations, contains serious constitutional flaws and places undue financial burdens on small educational enterprises that serve a vital public function. The Constitutional Challenge Behind…

Engineers inspecting the concrete beneath Terminal 2 at Panama’s busiest airport discovered pavement deformations that fundamentally reshaped a construction project initially conceived as a routine capacity increase. The Tocumen airport expansion now carries a combined investment of $306.75 million, split between two separate initiatives that address both immediate infrastructure failures and long-term growth demands at the country’s primary aviation gateway. Airport authorities confirmed the scope of the work extends well beyond adding new boarding areas. The larger project, valued at $208.75 million, focuses on expanding the Terminal 2 South Pier, while a second initiative worth $98 million targets airfield improvements.…