Childrens Hospital wins battle for land grant

Panama’s  Hospital del Nino  has won its battle for the land of the former US embassy on Avenida Balboa to build a new structure.

On Tuesday August  7 the Cabinet Council  unanimously approved the donation of  the land  to, the Board of the Children's Hospital (HN).

The decision came after months of demonstrations by hospital staff  supported by    civil groups and community organizations.

The existing 62 year old hospital which handles 225,000 patients a year is bursting at the  seams.

 Minister of the Presidency Roberto Henriquez , told local media that the the donation will be with domain  constraint whicb  means that the trustees cannot sell the land without the permission of the government in power.whichensures that the land will be used for the purpose requested the building a new hospital.

The minister said that the President will to meet soon with the HN to formalize this decision.

Earlier in the day the CEO of the Hospital del Niño (HN), pediatrician Alberto Bissot, had said that  he relied on the good faith of the members of the Cabinet Council. To enable  the  building  of a new hospital for children from across the country.Henriquez had said that he did not favor the donation, and the finance  Ministtry was pushing  for the sale of the land.

"We know the result will  be positive he told TVN  at 7 am, but hospital staff kept picketing.

The care provided for its 225 000 patients, including hospitalization, surgery, outpatient and ambulatory care.

The former American embassy was demolished to build a 70 story tower for the Ministry of Finance in the face of widespread protests. A local architect was paid $7 million to design the structure, which would have cost $250 million. The project was cancelled and the cash strapped government planned to sell the land to help pay for multiple infrastructure projects