Unfinished hospital city legacy of problems

HOSPITAL CITY, once a loudly trumpeted  flagship project of  former president Ricardo Martinelli, which his satraps wanted to  adorn with his name, has been plagued with problems due to poor planning and execution.

Work began  in 2012  and it has yet to open, with the most optimistic forecast, September 2018.

The problems that have bedeviled the project have included costly mistakes with  materials used in the construction and a lack of planning for  access roads and connection to utilities.

Now there is evidence that the contract only includes 25 percent of the equipment needed for the facility to function reports La Prensa.

Social Security (CSS) Director Estivenson Giron says  that the agency is working to solve the problem and he claims  the facility will be completed in September 2018.

The CSS has hired the Ciracet Corporation to define the equipment that will be required, and once that amount is determined, there will be an addendum to the contract.

Domingo Moreno, of the National Medical Negotiating Commission, said there are also concerns about a lack of professionals needed to staff the facility. The shortage of trained personnel was not taken into consideration when the mega project was announced . The University of Panama has increased the intake of medical students, but they will not have graduated when the project opens, and health authorities may have to cannibalize other centers to make the project operational.

“We don’t have the human resources to staff this facility,” said Moreno

The facility will cost an estimated $517 million and will be the largest medical facility in the country.