The company Tri Star Centroamérica was the only entity to submit a proposal in the tender for the Social Security Fund of Panama for the supply of 55 ambulances.
The process for this public purchase was published on the website for state purchases last July, and consists of the purchase of vehicles to be used for patient care and transport, which must be this years model or the next.The engine must be at least 150 horsepower, diesel or gasoline engine with electronic injection of 4 to 8 cylinders.
The Social Security Fund of Panama is putting out to tender 55 ambulances, duly equipped for the care of patients of the institution.
Panama Government Purchase 2018-1-10-0-08-LP-304763:
"The vehicles required for the transfer and attention of patients must be this years models or the year after.The engine must be at least 150 horsepower, diesel or gasoline engine with electronic injection of 4 to 8 cylinders.
The Health Ministry will be allocating resources to purchase 59 ambulances which will be distributed among different centers.
The National Economic Council (CENA) has approved an additional loan for $5 million to acquire 59 ambulances.
Panamaamerica.com.pa reports that "...The CENA has also given approval to four requests by the Social Security Fund (CSS)for exceptional procedures, amounting to 10 million, so that 200 patients who are on the waiting list for heart surgery at the Dr. Arnulfo Arias Madrid Hospital can receive care in private hospitals. "
The Ministry of Health in El Salvador is putting out to tender a supply of ambulances and medical and clinical equipment for the National Maternity Hospital.
El Salvador Government Purchase LPN-B-BCIE-MINSAL 01/2017 BCIE-MINSAL :
"Construction and equipping of the National Maternity Hospital, San Salvador, equipping phase of the building: Hospital Equipment, Supply Ambulances, BCIE funds Format: Co-Rated."
After canceling the four year contract for leasing the vehicles, the Social Security Department has announced that it is preparing the request for proposals to re-tender a supply of ambulances.
"...The acting director of the entity, Ruben Lopez, reported that they will be publishing a new public event, but this time to purchase ambulances."
The Consortium Ambuebérica Panama and Asociación Accidental Ambulancias para Todos bid $21.6 million and $25.8 million in the tender for the rental of 97 vehicles for the Social Security Department.
The Social Security Department has once again postponed the date for submitting proposals in the tender for rental of 97 ambulances, this time until June 23.
Besides the change in the date for submitting bids, the tender details have been modified, excluding the option of purchasing ambulances at the end of the contract.
From a statement issued by the Social Security Department:
The Ministry of Health in Nicaragua is putting out to tender the supply of 176 equipped ambulances.
Nicaragua Government Purchase 1072015/2016:
Main features of the ambulances.
"Description of transport equipment:
-Vehicle type: Station Wagon and / or All Terrain 2016 (minimum)
-Color. White
-Engine: Diesel .
-Minimum Cylinder: 3,000 cc.
-Number of cylinders: Minimum four (04) cylinders.
The Social Security Fund in Panama is putting out to tender the lease-purchase of 97 ambulances, including preventive and corrective maintenance and replacement units for a period of 48 months.
Panama Government Purchase 2016-1-10-0-08-LV-187 838:
"Service of Lease with option to purchase, of ninety-seven (97) Ambulances including preventive and corrective maintenance and replacement units, appropriately equipped for the Attention of insured and uninsured patients (areas of agreement) of the Social Security for a period of forty-eight (48) consecutive months.
It has been announced that a tender will soon be launched for ambulances services using 97 equipped vehicles operating 24 hours seven days a week, plus 10 in reserve.
Authorities at the Social Security Department in Panama indicated that it is more convenient to use a rental service than purchase and maintain vehicles.
Despite the fact that various entities in the health system are opposed to this initiative to outsource ambulance services, saying it is more cost effective to buy and maintain them, the director of the CSS, Estivenson Girón, announced that "... within 30 or 45 days we could be launching this tender. "