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CSS declares emergency as Chitré clinics restart in stages

The Social Security Fund (CSS) has put itself under an institutional state of emergency so it can speed purchases, contracts and building repairs after the 9 October earthquake damaged facilities in Herrera, Los Santos, Veraguas, Coclé and Panama province. The board authorised director general Dino Mon Vásquez to make that call. In parallel, outpatient care is restarting in stages at Hospital Dr. Gustavo Nelson Collado in Chitré, while Policlínica Presidente Remón on Calle 17 in Panama City stays closed pending structural advice, and the newer Policlínica Roberto Ramírez De Diego in Chitré is reopening only on the ground floor.

What patients need to know now

  • Emergency tool: Junta Directiva authorised Mon to declare institutional emergency to accelerate buy/contract/rehab and restore services in quake-hit zones (CSS 13 Oct; La Prensa; Critica).
  • Hospital Collado, Chitré: outpatient / regular patients from Wednesday 14 October, limited capacity; elective and ambulatory surgery aimed at Monday 19 October; suspended appointments being rebooked; wards reopen after deep clean (CSS; Critica; La Prensa).
  • Policlínica Roberto Ramírez De Diego, Chitré (15 Oct visit): Medical Records, Physiotherapy, Radiology and Pharmacy among damaged areas; upper floors partly closed for repairs; ground floor cleared for basic services such as Radiology, Dentistry and Pharmacy; outpatient continuing via field hospital tents, including Parque Forestal (CSS 15 Oct).
  • Still disrupted: Policlínica Presidente Remón (Calle 17) closed while Southcom urban search-and-rescue inspected both buildings (CSS 13 Oct; Critica; La Prensa). ULAPS Tonosí closed for structural damage; CAPPS Los Pozos closed with climate-controlled tents planned; Soná (Ezequiel Abadía / Horacio Díaz Gómez area) outpatient partly limited (La Prensa; CSS 14 Oct tour).
  • Broader CSS ops: employer packages and cuota payment deadlines for firms that lost activity in the zone; renal/dialysis contingency still stressed as a priority (La Prensa quoting Gordón / Mon). Second-fortnight pension pay for October set for Friday 16 October nationwide; Las Tablas agency closed so cheque pickup moves to Chitré; Banco Nacional listed alternate ATM points where branches are shut (La Prensa 15 Oct).

What it means for expats

  • If you are CSS-insured and use Chitré or Azuero clinics, call ahead or check CSS channels before you travel. Outpatient is back at Collado with limits; some services sit in tents or on the ground floor only.
  • Panama City Remón users should assume Calle 17 is offline until CSS says otherwise, and ask for the temporary referral site for your specialty.
  • This is about service continuity and repair speed, not a change to your cuota rate or the separate 90-day “Panamá se levanta” benefits plan covered on 14 October.
  • Pensionados: Friday 16 October is the pay date for the second October quincena. If you usually collect in Las Tablas, go to Chitré instead.

Sources

  • CSS - Board authorises institutional emergency declaration - 13 Oct 2026
  • CSS - Damage check and recovery at Chitré policlínica - 15 Oct 2026
  • CSS - Inspection tour of central and Azuero facilities - 14 Oct 2026
  • La Prensa - CSS declares emergency after quake damage - 14 Oct 2026
  • Critica - CSS emergency and Chitré outpatient reopen - 14 Oct 2026
  • La Prensa - CSS pension pay on 16 October 2026 - 15 Oct 2026