BOQUETE HAS A NEW AMBULANCE

[olga suarez]

The town protested and got together after the death of a local young man due to lack of hospital transport/ambulance.

The alcalde Mr. Walker Diaz aka Millo, joined forces with the residents and got hard on MINSA for the request of a much needed ambulance, well today Boquete woke up with a new ambulance

Thanks to the alcalde, finally there is hope!

[Manny Calderon]

That private ambulance service should be sued and runned out of town.

When a human being is minutes away from dying on the pavement.

There is not time to come up with any kind of money, not 25 not 250.

I am sure we will all agree that saving that kids life is worth a lot more than 250 bucks. But the owner of that company just care for the money.

I call for a boycott till they go belly up.

[Doug Johnson]

Sued for what??  Not providing a free service?  How do you think they would stay in business?

You don't want them in town ?  That would make you feel better?

If you don't want to buy their service, don't.  Taxis won't take you to the hospital for free, either.

[olga suarez]

Actually Panamanians are compassionate and would not let someone die just because of money. Where was this service when the young man died?

[Amanda Firestone]

Did anyone call them?

[Bill]

Second that Doug.

[Amanda Firestone]

Agreed. It's called free enterprise, of which supply and demand is at the heart. You don't like it or can't afford it? Don't use it. There are other alternatives available to you. It's an economic issue, not a cultural one.

Should certain restaurants be closed down because only a few Panamanians can afford them? Should certain houses be razed because few Panamanians can afford them? Leveling the economic base in this way smacks of communism, not free market capitalism.

[olga suarez]

Not so. Panamanians shall be able to afford to live in their own country and not be deprived of certain things just because some choose to hike prices based on an expat market who is OK overpaying for services just because they can afford it.
Someone, a young Panamanian from Boquete died. There was no ambulance to transport him and that is their right as they pay for social security (seguro social). The town is obligated to cater and provide services to nationals not expats. We are guests in their town and now they are affected by the choice of many to move to their town, to avoid taxes or cut their expenses. If it was in your hometown, you would not like it

[Amanda Firestone]

The town DOES provide ambulance service to the nationals. And the town just got another ambulance. How on earth does the existence of a private ambulance company harm the nationals in any way? In fact, if people with money are using the private service, it frees up an ambulance for the nationals.

[Hil]

I agree. Also, they charge a MONTHLY fee with these private ambulances. I talked to the owner of the one across from Mike's Global Grill one day. And yes, she charges a monthly fee of $60 in addition to the transport. I already pay INSURANCE for an Ambulance in this country.....DUH......and it ONLY COVERS $100. This should be against the law.

So why doesn't the municipality provide the ambulance with Drivers that can follow directions when  needed? By the way for they get PAID for their service.

[William Hill]

bah humbug... there is a cloud behind every silver lining