Hospitals Begin Phased Return After Earthquake Inspections and Cleaning

PANAMA CITY, October 13, 2026 — Hospitals in affected areas are beginning a phased return to normal operations after technical inspections, cleaning and safety work, while facilities that have not yet been cleared continue to use transfers or temporary arrangements for patient care.

The government says the aim is to bring patients back inside hospital areas only after professionals have inspected the relevant spaces and declared them safe. The approach recognizes the concern felt by patients and families after the earthquake while keeping medical care linked to engineering and safety findings.

Return only after clearance

Officials said patients had initially remained outside some facilities or under temporary shelters following the first earthquake. Health authorities are now asking patients to return when the relevant areas have been inspected and reopened, noting that a properly cleared hospital area offers a more suitable setting for treatment than an improvised outdoor arrangement.

Hospitals mentioned in the official update include Cecilio Castillero in Herrera, Francisco Franco Zayas in Las Tablas and Aquilino Tejeira in Penonomé. Authorities said patients at those facilities began returning to corresponding care areas after structural checks, internal cleaning and adjustments to restore services.

A hospital-by-hospital recovery process

The Ministry of Health said the country’s response cannot be reduced to one general reopening announcement. Different hospitals experienced different conditions, and each area must be evaluated before it is used. Where conditions remain unsuitable, patient transfers and temporary care spaces continue to be part of the response.

Officials also said 67 health installations had recorded impacts in the initial update. That figure helps explain why recovery will require both immediate continuity plans and longer-term repair or reconstruction work.

What patients should do

Patients with appointments, ongoing treatment or urgent needs should follow direct instructions from their hospital, the Ministry of Health and the Social Security Fund. Families should not assume that every ward or service has resumed at the same time. Official notices remain the best source for facility-specific changes.

Source: Presidency of Panama