In a historic event for the region, the President of the Republic, José Raúl Mulino Quintero, and the Minister of Health, Fernando Boyd Galindo, inaugurated the General Hospital of Bugaba – José Félix Espinosa Barroso, a long-awaited project by over 171,000 residents of the district who, for years, yearned for a modern, dignified, and functional health infrastructure.
With this act, the official launch of the hospital was announced, whose construction had been abandoned for years, deteriorating over time and affecting the investment already made with funds from all Panamanians.
President Mulino's vision and his commitment to putting the patient first allowed the project to be resumed and brought to fruition, transforming what was once a set of dilapidated structures into a modern hospital center serving Bugaba and neighboring communities.
Phased Opening The General Hospital of Bugaba will begin operations at 12:01 a.m. on Friday, November 28, through a gradual opening process:
First 90 days: Emergency services, observation area, and basic services. Between 3 and 6 months: Start of outpatient consultations and partial hospitalization with 40 beds. Between 6 and 12 months: Operation of the operating rooms, maternity ward, and Intensive Care Unit. Between 12 and 18 months: Full enablement of specialties, TAC/MRI services, and expansion to a total capacity of 130 beds, bringing the hospital to 100% of its operational capacity.
Infrastructure and Capabilities The hospital, with a total projected capacity of 172 beds, has two fully equipped levels:
Ground Floor Outpatient consultation Laboratory and blood bank Imaging Emergency room Pharmacy Morgue and pathology Administration, teaching, and support areas (laundry, warehouse, nutrition and dietetics) Workshop buildings and industrial area New Chemotherapy and Hemodialysis building, with: 15 chairs for hemodialysis 15 chairs for chemotherapy Complementary areas for both services
Upper Floor Pediatric hospitalization Internal medicine Gynecology and obstetrics Surgery Neonatology Intensive Care Unit Surgical and gynecological area: 3 modular operating rooms 2 modular delivery rooms Chapel / prayer room Medical residency and specialty offices
Bed Distribution Neonatology/ICU: 13 Internal Medicine Hospitalization: 26 Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospitalization: 26 Surgery Hospitalization: 26 Pediatric Hospitalization: 42 Surgery: 12 Obstetrics and Gynecology: 9
During the inaugural act, the Minister of Health called on the residents of Bugaba to use, care for, and value the facility, remembering that every investment made belongs to the Panamanian people and not to any political party or figure.
He also urged the health staff to turn this modern building into a space where each patient receives a human, warm, and respectful care.
The National Government also announced the next challenge: the construction of a bunker for a linear accelerator, which will allow for cancer treatment without the need to travel to the capital city.
The new General Hospital of Bugaba represents a fundamental step towards strengthening medical care in the province of Chiriquí, marking a before and after for thousands of families who today receive a modern, functional, and universally accessible facility.
