Hospital center closed indefinitely

The Irma Lourdes Tzanetatos hospital center, which was evacuated on 22nd April due to chemical contamination, will remain closed until further notice. The Social Security Authority (CSS) has so far failed to provide a concrete date for the re-opening of the center, located near Tocumen airport in Panama City. The CSS did specify that the building complex has first to undergo a deep and thorough process of disinfection of all of its air ducts, before the safety of patients and medical staff can be guaranteed.

According to the director of Medical Services of the CSS, Danilo Martinez, the authorities are yet to detect the chemical agent that would be responsible for the strong odours as well as for bouts of allergic reactions in some of the residents. All doctors and patients have been re-allocated to alternative medical centers: in all, the hospital cared for an average of 518 patients per day attending external consults, 37 hospitalised and over 600 ER cases.

Mr. Martinez confirmed that, as soon as the hospital re-opens, the CSS will in all likelihood organized a series of special sessions to make up for lost specialist consults as well as surgeries.

Backgorund

The Irma Lourdes Tzanetatos hospital center was formerly known as the 24th December Hospital, taking its name after the neighbourhood in which it is located. The authorities changed its name to the current one to honour the late younger child of businessman Haralambos "Bobby" Tzanetatos, whose family donated the land where the hospital was erected.  The hospital inaugurated its emergency room in 2010.