Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino officially opened the new Bugaba district hospital this Thursday, November 27. The facility, located in the Chiriquí Province, culminates a 14 year wait for local residents after numerous construction delays plagued the project. Mulino declared the completed hospital the finest in the entire province during the inauguration ceremony.
He specifically acknowledged the persistent efforts of the Bugaba community, whose constant pressure he credited for the project’s final delivery. The president noted that construction workers had promised him the hospital would be ready exactly one year prior, a commitment that has now been fulfilled.
“I thank the people of the district who never gave up in demanding that this hospital be finished,” [Translated from Spanish] Mulino said. He emphasized that the project’s completion is a direct response to that unwavering civic pressure.
Mulino also revealed a key feature of the new medical center. The hospital comes with a five year maintenance plan already included, a provision he explained will ensure the infrastructure and equipment remain in optimal condition.
A Call for Protection and a Symbol of Hope
The president made a direct appeal to both the community and the healthcare professionals who will work in the new facility. He urged them to protect the significant public investment the hospital represents.
“I ask you to take care of this. Take care of it!” [Translated from Spanish] he underscored during his speech.
His address included a poignant moment focused on a young patient from Bugaba. He invited a girl who had undergone open heart surgery in Panama City to the inauguration as a symbolic gesture. Her presence highlighted the profound impact the local hospital is expected to have on regional healthcare accessibility, preventing the need for arduous travel for serious procedures.
Demanding Rapid Health System Integration
One of the most forceful segments of the president’s message targeted the country’s two main public health institutions. Mulino insisted that the integration of the Ministry of Health (Panama) and the Caja de Seguro Social must proceed quickly. He stated that this is both a legal requirement and an operational necessity for the nation.
“I want that health integration to function, and fast. Fast,” [Translated from Spanish] he affirmed.
He argued that maintaining parallel health structures generates unnecessary expenses and creates difficulties for patients seeking care. The president specifically questioned the past practice of building separate Minsa and CSS hospitals in close proximity to each other. He labeled it a senseless duplication of effort and resources that should be eliminated entirely.
“It makes no sense to have this duplication,” [Translated from Spanish] he expressed.
Mulino directed the leaders of both systems to begin operating as a single, unified institution immediately. His administration, he reiterated, is committed to a coordinated and efficient single health attention system. This approach aims to prevent resource waste while guaranteeing better service for all Panamanian patients.
“Work as if it were one single hospital, one single institution, to truly integrate everything under one roof.” [Translated from Spanish]
Phased Implementation of Specialties
Health Minister Fernando Boyd Galindo provided additional details about the hospital’s operational timeline. He confirmed that the facility will eventually offer all medical specialties, though he cautioned that achieving full operational capacity will take time. The minister compared the process to other recently opened hospitals, noting that a gradual ramp up is standard.
Minister Boyd also revealed an unexpected enhancement to the hospital’s capabilities. The original plans did not include rooms for hemodialysis and oncology treatments. The finished installation, however, now contains these specialized departments, expanding the hospital’s potential service offerings beyond initial projections. This development signals a broader scope of critical care that will be available locally for residents of Bugaba and the surrounding district in the future.