The Ministry of Health of Panama (Minsa) announced on Monday the start of international medical cooperation between Panama and the United States. Specialists from the United States Southern Command (Southcom) have integrated into the Regional Hospital Nicolás A. Solano.
This initiative, emphasized by Nicolás A. Solano Hospital, represents a significant advance for the Panamanian health system, promoting technical exchange and strengthening critical areas of care.
Dr. Andrew Shafrina, from the Southern Command, stated: "I am very excited to be here and to benefit this collaboration and the exchange of skills and practices." He also added: "This exchange of knowledge will enrich our staff and will allow us to provide a more efficient, human and timely care."
According to Minsa, in the first stage, the Hospital Nicolás A. Solano receives a trauma specialist doctor and a nurse also specialized, who will work for three months supporting the management of trauma and other clinical areas.
During the visit, they learned about the care flows, work teams, and the areas in which they will provide support, thus facilitating their integration into the hospital system. As part of their integration, the visiting doctors took a guided tour of the Emergency area, where they will be working in the coming months.
Dr. David Rodríguez, medical director of Hospital Nicolás A. Solano, expressed his satisfaction with the arrival of these new specialists and the positive impact they will have on patient care. "For us, this support represents an important step in strengthening our services and in the continuous improvement of the care we provide," he said.
The General Secretary of Minsa, Julio Arosemena, highlighted the relevance of this medical accompaniment and the commitment of the National Government to strengthen the network of health services. "The Ministry of Health feels very pleased with this support that the Government of the United States has given through the Southern Command," he stated. "We deeply thank this joint effort and reaffirm our commitment to excellence and service to the community," he affirmed.
According to Arosemena, the integration of a trauma doctor and a trauma specialist nurse will provide significant support to the emergency area and other priority specialties. "This is the beginning of many tours that we will carry out during the rest of 2025 and during 2026," he expressed.
