With an investment of 187.2 million balboas, the President of the Republic, Laurentino Cortizo Cohen inaugurated this Tuesday, September 27, the new Dionisio Arrocha Hospital in Puerto Armuelles; and the modern Outpatient and Specialized Consultation facilities of the Dr. Rafael Hernández Hospital Center, in David, both with the capacity to offer better health services to a greater number of patients in the west of the country.
Cortizo assured that the issue of health, of the physical well-being of the entire population, is a matter of the State, of human rights, and must be above any economic or political interest. “This administration understands it that way and we are going to continue on that path,” he assured.
The new Dionisio Arrocha Hospital represents an investment of B/. 64.2 million and benefits more than 60 thousand Panamanians and Panamanians from the west of Chirica.
Meanwhile, the External and Specialized Consultation of the Dr. Rafael Hernández Hospital Center, at a cost of B/. 123 million, will benefit a population of more than one million people from Bocas del Toro, Veraguas, Chiriquí and the Ngäbe Buglé region.
Both hospital infrastructures belong to the Social Security Fund (CSS).
The Dionisio Arrocha Hospital, in Puerto Armuelles, is a modern complex equipped with state-of-the-art technology, with its 12 modules, offering Cardiology, Family Medicine, Ophthalmology, Otorhinolaryngology, Psychiatry, Radiology, as well as Technical Services, Occupational Health, Optometry and Psychology, among others.
The work, of more than 25 thousand square meters of construction, also includes 18 bedrooms to house the doctors and health personnel who provide their services in these facilities.
He added that the contract with the construction company included a preventive and corrective maintenance plan for all the facilities, for 36 months, from its completion.
The new hospital center now has the capacity to offer better health services to a greater number of patients, from the corregimientos of Puerto Armuelles, Limones, Progreso, Baco, Rodolfo Aguilar and surrounding areas in the district of Barú.
He stressed that the insured population of these communities covers more than 84% of the total population of the area.
Enrique Lau Cortés, director of the Social Security Fund (CSS), thanked on behalf of the people to receive these facilities that were built in the worst moments of history. “Never has another government in Panama faced as many adversities as a pandemic. I must publicly recognize the leadership of our President who has known how to keep the helm of the country firm, in the search for the best interests of all”.
The director of the CSS announced that the Western Cancer Center will be installed in the Dr. Rafael Hernández Hospital to care for cancer patients who today have to travel to Panama City. This project has three phases: the chemotherapy room; Provide diagnostic equipment and build a bunker for the radiotherapy service.
The new External and Specialized Consultation of the Dr. Rafael Hernández Hospital Center includes the Emergency Services, Physiotherapy, External Consultation, Pharmacy, Laboratory, Hospitalization Room for Cardiology and Medical Specialties.
It also has a Covid-19 room, Covid Intensive Care Unit; Chemotherapy room, Physiatry room, X-rays and Endoscopic Center.
President Cortizo Cohen was accompanied by the Minister of Health in charge, Ivette Berrío; the governor of the province of Chiriquí, Juan Carlos Muñoz; members of the Board of Directors of the Social Security Fund and local authorities.
