Renacimiento demands 24-hour medical care to avoid cross-border transfers to Costa Rica

Residents and local officials in Renacimiento, Chiriquí, are urgently calling for 24-hour medical attention, particularly in the border district with Costa Rica. The current health center operates only until 11 p.m., leaving a critical gap in services during the early morning hours and forcing residents to seek care across the border.

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The call arises from the current limitations of the health center in the area, which provides attention until 11:00 p.m., leaving a period without coverage during the early morning, between 11:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m.

Quintín Pittí, the mayor of Renacimiento, has appealed to the Ministry of Health to implement temporary extended hours while planned infrastructure projects are completed. He highlighted the necessity of addressing emergencies during the night and avoiding the need for patients to travel to Costa Rica for treatment.

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The Ministry of Health has approved funds to advance the completion and rehabilitation of several health facilities in the western region of the country.

The Ministry of Health, led by Fernando Boyd Galindo, has confirmed that funds have been allocated for the completion and rehabilitation of several health facilities in the western region of the country. The ministry aims to restore abandoned facilities and make health posts, sub-centers, and centers functional again. Galindo stated that the recovery of health infrastructure is crucial for improving services in the area.

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We seek to recover facilities that remained abandoned for years and put into operation the posts, sub-centers, and health centers in the region.

Health authorities are evaluating the possibility of extending operating hours, considering the specific needs of Renacimiento's population and its status as a border district. This request gains particular importance during the coffee harvest season, which sees an increase in the movement of workers, including those crossing between Panama and Costa Rica. The ministry is committed to ensuring these centers can respond to the population's needs, including preventive programs like early detection of cervical cancer.

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The authorities proposed that, while the works are concluded, at least an extension of the attention hours in the current health center be enabled.