BCIE approves US$120 million for Panama healthcare infrastructure

The Central American Bank for Economic Integration (BCIE) has approved US$120 million to fund the construction, expansion, and modernization of four healthcare facilities in Panama. The program targets the Panama Norte Hospital, Joaquín Pablo Franco Sayas Hospital, Cañazas Hospital, and the Curundú Health Center.

The investment aims to rehabilitate approximately 77,172 square meters of infrastructure and add 342 hospital beds. These improvements are expected to benefit more than 614,000 people by strengthening 11 medical specialties and enabling approximately 7,250 additional surgeries annually, which should help reduce patient waiting times. The project is also estimated to generate around 600 temporary jobs.