Construction has begun on Panama's first public veterinary hospital, one of the most anticipated projects by the citizens and a fulfillment of a campaign promise by President José Raúl Mulino. On Wednesday, the head of state handed over the first shovel of earth to the First Lady, Maricel Cohen de Mulino, in the presence of ministers, municipal authorities, and over 80 guests with their pets. «With this first shovel, we are not just starting a construction project; we are fulfilling a campaign promise and contributing to building a more humane, responsible, and solidary Panama,» stated the president. He also highlighted that the new public veterinary hospital will provide a solution for many families who lack the necessary financial resources to access adequate healthcare for their pets. The facility, located in the Costa Sur area of Juan Díaz, is expected to be completed by mid-2027. It will offer a wide range of services, including outpatient consultations, emergencies, surgery, hospitalization, rehabilitation, imaging, laboratory services, and a morgue. With 8 consultation rooms and 18 doctors daily, the hospital will have a capacity of 240 consultations per day, projecting an annual figure of 95,000 attendances for dogs and cats. For complex procedures, there will be four operating rooms dedicated to general surgery, in addition to an operating room for immediate emergency care. In terms of hospitalization, it will be able to house an estimated 40 animals per day in cubicles. It is also estimated that in the districts of Panama and San Miguelito, more than 181,000 pets will be direct beneficiaries of this project. It will also provide a space for the training of veterinary students who wish to specialize in the care of dogs and cats.
