SEVEN consortia presented proposals to participate in the tender for studies, design and development of plans for the construction of the new Hospital del Niño (HN) and the Santo Tomas  Hospital. Maternity Wing.

Plans for the tender  have an  $8.5 million price tag.

HN director, Paul Gallardo, welcomed the step because the current  hospital structures, dating from 1950, are too  small for the number of patients seen there.

Health Minister Francisco Javier Terrientes said  that, following the opening of the envelopes, an evaluation committee will have up to 15 days to announce which of the seven consortia is the winner.

The structures will be built on the site of the former US Embassy in Panama on    Balboa Avenue, and adjacent   to the grounds of Santo Tomas, is expected to be completed and operational in 2019.