Health center program, remains stalled

A PROGRAM to install primary care centers in rural health centers, introduced by the previous administration, stalled in September 2013 as problems erupted between the government and contractors.

The $160 million project work on many of the centers in the$160 million project projects ground to a halt and only 10 of the 21 centers were completed leaving the current Ministry of Health to find the money and solve the problem.
Minister of Health Francisco Javier Terrientes has said that problems such as lack of drinking water and electrical connections have stalled the work at some of the centers. For example, the center at Llano Carti, in Guna Yala, is located 50 kilometers from the nearest source of electricity.
Ministry advisor Gabriel Cedeño, said that there are plans to bring several of the centers on line by the end of the year. They include facilities in Chiriqui, Veragua the Darién and Torti. The fate of the remaining centers will depend on the availability of funds in the 2016 budget.