{"id":9831,"date":"2025-12-03T19:50:00","date_gmt":"2025-12-04T00:50:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/?p=9831"},"modified":"2025-12-03T14:10:48","modified_gmt":"2025-12-03T19:10:48","slug":"panama-breaks-ground-on-first-public-veterinary-hospital-in-juan-diaz","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/investments\/panama-breaks-ground-on-first-public-veterinary-hospital-in-juan-diaz\/","title":{"rendered":"Panama Breaks Ground on First Public Veterinary Hospital in Juan D\u00edaz"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Panamanian President Jos\u00e9 Ra\u00fal Mulino launched construction of the nation’s first public veterinary hospital this week. The landmark facility in the Juan D\u00edaz, Panama<\/a> district represents a 14.1 million balboa investment aimed at expanding access to pet care and strengthening public health safeguards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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“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 Jos\u00e9 Ra\u00fal Mulino. [Translated from Spanish]<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Comprehensive Care and National Impact<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Designed as a full-service animal medical center, the hospital will provide outpatient consulta externa<\/a>, emergency services, surgery, hospitalization, and rehabilitation. Diagnostic support will include imaging and laboratory work. Plans show eight consultation rooms staffed by eighteen doctors daily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Educational Mission and Economic Stimulus<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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“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]<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n

*Hospital de Mascotas inicia construcci\u00f3n, con miras a inaugurar a mediados de 2027*

El Hospital de Mascotas, una de las obras m\u00e1s esperadas por la ciudadan\u00eda, ha comenzado su construcci\u00f3n, dando cumplimiento a una promesa de campa\u00f1a del presidente de la Rep\u00fablica,\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/1b7MI9nc1w<\/a><\/p>— Astrid Salazar (@as_salazar) December 3, 2025<\/a><\/blockquote>