New Linear Accelerator Reduces Waiting Times in Panama

Waiting times have been drastically reduced, and thanks to the leadership of the Oncology Institute, we are putting into operation the new linear accelerator that works with resonance. Jones pointed out that oncology services are integrated and explained that for this to happen, the waiting time for radiotherapy was around four months from 5:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. "Currently, we have treated more than 350 breast and prostate cancer patients, and it operates from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.," he stated. "A new nine-story building is being constructed to bring all chemotherapy, laboratory, pathology, and oncology pharmacy services from the Oncology Institute, which will have the latest technology. The new building of the National Oncology Institute (ION) in the City of Health will be built respecting the technical specifications required by the board of directors of the National Oncology Institute, as assured by Marcos Jones, director of medical services of the Social Security Fund. "The CSS has respected the technical specifications required by the National Oncology Institute's Board of Directors and its technical group is designed for first-world care," Jones said. "We will have eight linear accelerators with which we hope to surpass and have better waiting times than private clinics," he specified. However, he specified that in the Ancón headquarters, surgical services and intensive care, as well as the two linear accelerators for radiotherapy, will continue to operate. This new building will have nine floors with 92 offices in more than 15 specialties, and $72 million will be invested in it, which must be ready in 26 months. It was reported that the new building will have a chemotherapy room with 80 chairs, 6 beds, and parking for 272 vehicles.