Panama in bid to accelerate construction of US$517mn hospital complex

The government of Panama is negotiating with Spanish builder FCC to speed up construction of the US$517mn so-called Ciudad de la Salud hospital complex, so that work wraps up by the end of next year.

President Juan Carlos Varela, news agency Efe reported, told journalists during a visit to inspect construction work that "the country's comptroller is holding meetings with FCC in order to make the required endorsements and addendums to the project's contract that allow construction works to move forward."

The contract for the construction of what is set to be one of the largest hospital complexes in the region was awarded to FCC in 2011. Work was suspended in 2014 after Varela took office following corruption allegations involving certain contracts awarded during the administration of former president Ricardo Martinelli.

Work resumed recently and, based on government information, construction is nearing the halfway mark.

Last year, the Panamanian government decided that a new facility housing Panama's national oncology institute, which is run by social security agency CSS, should also be built at the Ciudad de la Salud complex site. Construction of the institute's facilities will require an additional US$250mn investment. Equipping both hospitals will cost a further US$170mn. The project's total investment is set to be US$937mn.

The Ciudad de la Salud complex will have 295 medical consulting rooms, more than 1,000 beds, 39 operating rooms, labs, more than 3,500 parking spaces and a helipad, among other amenities.

If the negotiation process between the government and FCC is successful, the Ciudad de la Salud complex should be complete by the end of next year. Construction of the national oncology institute building is expected to be finished in early 2019.

Pictured: Panama's under-construction Ciudad de la Salud hospital complex.