Panama reorganizes hospital care after earthquake and announces a new hospital in Tonosí

Four hospitals in Panama are treating patients in tents after Friday's earthquake, the Health Ministry said on Sunday. The health emergency requires consultations and treatment to continue while buildings are inspected.

The earthquake on Friday, October 9, measured 7.7 in magnitude, according to the United States Geological Survey, and damaged homes, healthcare facilities and other infrastructure. The government declared a state of emergency. The immediate priority is to keep services running without exposing staff and patients to buildings whose safety has yet to be certified.

Reopening depends on inspections

Health services in Ocú were moved to the Minsa-CAPSI center. Tonosí has structural damage. Decisions about each facility depend on inspections, rather than simply on whether electricity has been restored or the building can be entered.

The Technological University of Panama certified the structural safety of Luis “Chicho” Fábrega Hospital. Its assessment allows preparations for a return indoors. Restoring a hospital also requires its equipment, supplies and patient-care operations to be functioning.

The Health Ministry had reported no deaths linked to the earthquake at the time of its Sunday statement.

Tonosí faces two needs

A new hospital was announced for Tonosí, with a projected cost of 30 million balboas and an expected construction period of 18 months. Administrative steps are still required before work can begin. The project offers a medium-term response; immediate care requires a different solution.

The emergency leaves two overlapping tasks. One is to maintain treatments, emergency services and routine checkups while buildings are restored. The other is to determine which infrastructure should be repaired and which needs to be replaced. The second will require more time and resources, but it cannot displace the first.

Images of damaged facades show the force of the earthquake. The functioning of the healthcare network will reveal how far the country can restore everyday life. For affected families, a return to normal begins with something concrete: knowing where to receive care, and that the place is safe.