Are the doctors in Panama good?

Panama has many well qualified and well trained Doctors. John Hopkins has opened a hospital in Panama for the express purpose of catering to the the Medical Tourism Industry. Many of the Doctors are not only graduates of Panamanian Medical Teaching institutions they also received training in the USA as well as in European Medical facilities.

Panama has several excellent hospitals which are fully staffed, one interesting thing I found in the Panama Hospitals is that the nursing...

Panama has many well qualified and well trained Doctors. John Hopkins has opened a hospital in Panama for the express purpose of catering to the the Medical Tourism Industry. Many of the Doctors are not only graduates of Panamanian Medical Teaching institutions they also received training in the USA as well as in European Medical facilities.

Panama has several excellent hospitals which are fully staffed, one interesting thing I found in the Panama Hospitals is that the nursing staff still wear traditional dresses as well as the cap of a practicing nurse.

Are the doctors in Panama good?  Well, I use them and I´m still alive! Kidding!!!!!

 

We do have top of the line doctors and specialists in every single area of medicine, so if you´re planning to visit Panama, don´t be worried about "sneeze".  You´ll be recovered in no time!

 

To the right is a picture of Hospital Punta Pacifica (an affiliate of Johns Hopkins in the US) here in Panama.

Are the doctors in Panama good?  Well, I use them and I´m still alive! Kidding!!!!!

 

We do have top of the line doctors and specialists in every single area of medicine, so if you´re planning to visit Panama, don´t be worried about "sneeze".  You´ll be recovered in no time!

 

To the right is a picture of Hospital Punta Pacifica (an affiliate of Johns Hopkins in the US) here in Panama.

Are the doctors in Panamá good? I can only speak for my region, around Volcán and Cerro Punta, and the provincial capital of Davíd. I would rate the medical care here as far better than in the United States, which has in recent years suffered a sharp downturn in quality combined with a steep rise in consumer costs. Medical attention in this region I find to be far more affordable, and of a considerably higher quality. I have not encountered any outright bad doctors, but...

Are the doctors in Panamá good? I can only speak for my region, around Volcán and Cerro Punta, and the provincial capital of Davíd. I would rate the medical care here as far better than in the United States, which has in recent years suffered a sharp downturn in quality combined with a steep rise in consumer costs. Medical attention in this region I find to be far more affordable, and of a considerably higher quality. I have not encountered any outright bad doctors, but there are a couple who I think offer less quality of service than the others. Most are superb. Many speak English. Many were trained in the United States or Europe.
 

Just as is the case in every country, for Panama there are good doctors and bad doctors.

 

Speaking from my own personal experiences, I have had exceptional luck with doctors and healthcare providers in Panama.  I would like to stress that I do have private insurance and generally stick to private hospitals and clinics, but more importantly I find doctors based on referrals from friends and family.

 

While Panama is growing by leaps and...

Just as is the case in every country, for Panama there are good doctors and bad doctors.

 

Speaking from my own personal experiences, I have had exceptional luck with doctors and healthcare providers in Panama.  I would like to stress that I do have private insurance and generally stick to private hospitals and clinics, but more importantly I find doctors based on referrals from friends and family.

 

While Panama is growing by leaps and bounds, it is still a small country with a total of just 3.4 million people as per our last census in 2010.  Word of mouth is still one of the best ways to find doctors or any service providers for that matter in Panama.

The doctors in Panama are not only good.......visitors and foreign residents are amazed of what they find in Panama... only the best!.  This is an enviable position for an emerging country, that is at the point that its medical services are considered a prime option in the American continent.

 

People around the world come to Panamá to get medical services or surgeries, and compliments are in the hundreds.  Not only because of the...

The doctors in Panama are not only good.......visitors and foreign residents are amazed of what they find in Panama... only the best!.  This is an enviable position for an emerging country, that is at the point that its medical services are considered a prime option in the American continent.

 

People around the world come to Panamá to get medical services or surgeries, and compliments are in the hundreds.  Not only because of the low prices and high quality, but because service is combined with that "touch" of Latin American special warmth.

Many of the doctors in Panama are bilingual, board certified and accustomed to working with the same medical equipment and technology used in the United States and Europe. Most of of them have been trained in the U.S. where they went on to practice for several years. They return to Panama to work in first-rate facilities boasting state of the art medical equipment, such as in San Fernando Hospital.
 

Many of the doctors in Panama are bilingual, board certified and accustomed to working with the same medical equipment and technology used in the United States and Europe. Most of of them have been trained in the U.S. where they went on to practice for several years. They return to Panama to work in first-rate facilities boasting state of the art medical equipment, such as in San Fernando Hospital.
 

Yes, the doctors in Panama are good. As a certified ophthalmologist (and a pensionado myself),  I have seen and spoken to several eye- doctors in Panama City and saw their equipment. Some clinics had the most advanced lasers that are only seen very rarely in the USA and not at all (yet) in Europe. Top education as well. Now, if you have no insurance you might have to wait a long time in a general hospital. Also the hospitals (the building) might not be as sophisticated as...

Yes, the doctors in Panama are good. As a certified ophthalmologist (and a pensionado myself),  I have seen and spoken to several eye- doctors in Panama City and saw their equipment. Some clinics had the most advanced lasers that are only seen very rarely in the USA and not at all (yet) in Europe. Top education as well. Now, if you have no insurance you might have to wait a long time in a general hospital. Also the hospitals (the building) might not be as sophisticated as you are used to. But if you care just for the appearance of the building and have to pay up to 5 times as much for a treatment in the US compared to Panama, you forgive them for that fast.

 

Due to the humidity compared with the temperature, you will find a large amount of children in the specialized "Hospital del Niño", the largest children's hospital in Panama City, being treated daily with inhalers against asthma. Everything is organized, the costs are $ 1.00 for a treatment, the staff is friendly, but it is an old building. The government pays for everything and everybody can come in, whether they can pay the $1.00 or not. The money they receive is used for quality care, not for paint on the walls.

The doctors in Panama are generally good, just like they are in Canada.  You just need to cherry pick the best ones.
 
We recently came to see Dr. Fabrega for a surgery in Hospital Paitilla, in Panama City, Panama.  Dr. Fabrega is world recognized in his specialty and spent 16 years as the head of his department at Sloan Kettering in the US.  Panama has many, many physicians who are world-renowned in their specialties.
 
The doctors in Panama usually (in...

The doctors in Panama are generally good, just like they are in Canada.  You just need to cherry pick the best ones.
 
We recently came to see Dr. Fabrega for a surgery in Hospital Paitilla, in Panama City, Panama.  Dr. Fabrega is world recognized in his specialty and spent 16 years as the head of his department at Sloan Kettering in the US.  Panama has many, many physicians who are world-renowned in their specialties.
 
The doctors in Panama usually (in some cases because they have to, but in many other cases, because they want to) spend anywhere from a third to a quarter of their day giving their services for almost nothing to the public hospitals.  And this included two or three of the top surgeons we were dealing with in Panama City, Panama; top, American-trained doctors, like Dr. Fabrega, who is recognized all over the world as an expert.
 
If you want the services of Dr. Fabrega now, you have to come to Panama.  Panama is now well known and respected for all kinds of medical tourism.

 

(Surgical staff at Hospital Paitalla, Panama, pictured. )

I have friends here in Panama who were diagnosed by the doctors in Panama.  My friends didn’t trust the diagnosis and went back to the US to be examined there, only to be told the same thing by the doctors in the US.

 

The differences in healthcare between North America and Panama are that, in some circumstances, for treatment, the doctors in the US have more up to date equipment to work with than they do in Panama.  However, in the cases I know...

I have friends here in Panama who were diagnosed by the doctors in Panama.  My friends didn’t trust the diagnosis and went back to the US to be examined there, only to be told the same thing by the doctors in the US.

 

The differences in healthcare between North America and Panama are that, in some circumstances, for treatment, the doctors in the US have more up to date equipment to work with than they do in Panama.  However, in the cases I know about, the diagnoses from the doctors in Panama were spot on.
 
I personally feel comfortable with the doctors here in Panama.  They’ve given me thorough examinations. 
 

I find that, in general, in Latin America, you receive the most wonderful beside manner, and Panama is no exception.  The doctors in Panama are amazing.  They are just such loving, caring people.  You know when you go to the doctor because something hurts and you just want to be taken care of?  That’s the type of care you get here.
 
The prices are great and the doctors are great.  I’ve never been steered wrong.  My x-rays cost me maybe...

I find that, in general, in Latin America, you receive the most wonderful beside manner, and Panama is no exception.  The doctors in Panama are amazing.  They are just such loving, caring people.  You know when you go to the doctor because something hurts and you just want to be taken care of?  That’s the type of care you get here.
 
The prices are great and the doctors are great.  I’ve never been steered wrong.  My x-rays cost me maybe US $30.
 
I would say that the doctors here in Panama are better than the doctors in Canada because here in Panama, you don’t feel rushed.  I’ve been on the Canadian medical system for most of my life and still felt that, even though I liked my doctor in Canada, I was being rushed out the door because there’s a shortage of doctors in Canada, and they have appointments backed up.  Even worse, I know from others that it’s even difficult to get a new doctor in Canada.  The fact that I had a doctor in Canada for several years didn’t matter; he still rushed me out the door because he had so many other patients to see.  You’re more on a time clock in Canada, whereas, here in Panama, they’ll take the time with you and talk with you and they don’t let you leave until you feel good about leaving.
 
In addition to having great bedside manner, relative to quality and competence, the doctors in Panama are most definitely equal to the doctors in Canada.

I love the doctors here in Panama. They are so efficient and so good. My husband and I have been, for four years, amazed by how the doctors in Panama treat patients.

 
A few years ago, I went to a dermatologist in the United States because I had a melanoma on my leg. They cut it out, which left a little hole on my leg. Then a few years later, I found another one below my eye and I got so worried that I will have a big indentation on my face. Our dermatologist here in...

I love the doctors here in Panama. They are so efficient and so good. My husband and I have been, for four years, amazed by how the doctors in Panama treat patients.

 
A few years ago, I went to a dermatologist in the United States because I had a melanoma on my leg. They cut it out, which left a little hole on my leg. Then a few years later, I found another one below my eye and I got so worried that I will have a big indentation on my face. Our dermatologist here in Panama did not remove it the way the US doctor did. My dermatologist here in Panama is also a plastic surgeon. He cut the melanoma below my eye and when the Band-Aid came off after a few days, I cannot even find a mark on my face!

Our dear friend moved here in Panama permanently almost 2 years ago and she had suffered with migraines and fibromyalgia for 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, for 25 years. She was referred to a naturalist who is also an internist here in Panama. This doctor was a regular MD internist who does not believe in all the medications they give out in the United States. Right now, our friend is off any medications and does not have any more migraines. For 25 years, she has suffered with these illnesses and the doctors in the US could only give her more prescriptions, which are extremely expensive. When she came here, they took her off all the prescriptions. She only takes some natural prescriptions now and has no more migraines. We have gone places and done things together. She is a vibrant, wonderful person.
 
Here in Panama, the doctors are with you for one full hour. Commonly, they spend 15 to 30 minutes on the checkup and the next 30 minutes are spent connecting with the patients. You and your doctor will be sitting back, talking about restaurants, family, and how you are doing. They do not rush the patients through like a bunch of cattle.

In addition, every doctor here in Panama saves his or her patients' phone numbers on his cell phone. So, if you were sick at one time, they will call you in a day or two and ask how you are feeling. Since they also give out their phone numbers to their patients, you could call a doctor at any time and ask him a question. You do not have to wait several days for a return phone call from a doctor like you do in the US; here in Panama they will actually call you to check how you are feeling.
 
These doctors rotate their clinic times in different areas of Panama, too. They have clinics in Clinica Hospital San Fernando. They also go to the upscale areas of Coronado (1 hour away from Panama City by car), and Arraijan, Panama (less than 30 minutes away from the heart of Panama City by car). They do so in order to help other expat communities. Therefore, expats know that the same doctor will attend to them every Thursday (for example), once that doctor does his clinic hours in that area. 

Panama is well-known for its world-class health care and is home to some of the most modern health care facilities in all of Latin America.

At the top of the list for reputation is Hospital Punta Pacifica in Panama City. This is a state-of-the-art facility that is affiliated with John Hopkins Medicine International. They work together with John Hopkins Hospital regarding patient referrals to the US, program development, education, and lectures for...

Panama is well-known for its world-class health care and is home to some of the most modern health care facilities in all of Latin America.

At the top of the list for reputation is Hospital Punta Pacifica in Panama City. This is a state-of-the-art facility that is affiliated with John Hopkins Medicine International. They work together with John Hopkins Hospital regarding patient referrals to the US, program development, education, and lectures for physicians and nursing development.

Paitilla Hospital (Centro Medico Paitilla) is the next most popular hospital among expats, as most of the doctors speak English. Many, in fact, complete their residencies in the US or Europe. This facility is best known for cardiology, cancer, and lab pathology as well as critical care for newborns and adults.

Other well-known and respected medical facilities within the country of Panama include Hospital Chiriqui, Hospital Nacional (affiliated with the Family Hospital Group of Boston, Massachusetts) and  Hospital Santa Fe. 

In Coronado, where I live, we have the San Fernando Clinic – and it is awesome! You will find that most of doctors and the staff there speak English. There is an emergency section of the clinic, as well as a walk-in area. There is rarely a long wait in the walk-in area (usually it is about 10 minutes) and the cost for a drop-in visit is $20 during the week and $60 on the weekends. They also have an on-site dentist as well as other specialists. Services range from radiology, CAT scans, ultrasounds, a clinical lab, ophthalmology, and an on-site pharmacy.

We also have an independent doctor, Dr. Victor Levy, who has opened a private office in The Village Mall and he is awesome!

Standard medical care, surgery, hospitalization, and dental care in Panama are less the half the cost of the same services in the US and Europe. Many people even come to Panama specifically for the medical tourism alone, since it can be much cheaper here than in their country of origin.

If you are planning to live in Panama, you can obtain a private insurance plan as an individual or a family at one of the hospitals mentioned above. Otherwise, payment of hospital expenses is the responsibility of the traveler and is due upon receipt of services.

Another important detail that I must not leave out is that pharmacies are in abundance here in Panama, and the cost of prescriptions is generally much lower than in Canada or the US. The neat thing is that you can purchase as few as ONE pill if that is all you need. Often, Panamanians only buy what they need, thus many things are available in small quantities – including medicine. Before leaving your country, learn what medical services your health insurance covers overseas. If you do have overseas coverage for major medical mishaps, remember to bring both your insurance policy and identity card.

The doctors in Panama are good.   Just in front of my office in Panama City is the Punta Pacifica Hospital, which is a Johns Hopkins affiliated hospital.  Everything in this hospital is like the United States.  All the doctors studied in the US, all the instruments come from the US, the knowledge, and the know-how all come from the US.
 
There are three hospitals in Panama City that are up to US standards and with US quality doctors--- Punta Pacifica,...

The doctors in Panama are good.   Just in front of my office in Panama City is the Punta Pacifica Hospital, which is a Johns Hopkins affiliated hospital.  Everything in this hospital is like the United States.  All the doctors studied in the US, all the instruments come from the US, the knowledge, and the know-how all come from the US.
 
There are three hospitals in Panama City that are up to US standards and with US quality doctors--- Punta Pacifica, Paitilla, and San Fernando. I just go to Punta Pacifica, but I heard the others are very good as well.
 
In addition to the doctors being good, the doctors in Panama are also much less expensive than you would expect in the United States.  Without insurance, a visit to the doctor still isn’t much and just costs between US $40 and $50.  
 
In Panama, the insurance coverage is much like the United States, where sometimes there's co-pay and sometimes there's a deductible.   In the insurance coverage with our company, I have a deductible, which is an excellent insurance for emergencies.  You may also get co-pay insurance, which is very good for daily visits to the doctor.

 

(Punta Pacifica logo, San Francisco, Panama City, Panama, pictured.) 

 

 

There are very good medical schools in Panama and the government of Panama has made providing quality medicine a high priority. The president recently provided a scholarship to 100 students because studying medicine is a very expensive.
 
The public service hospitals are not enough for the population of Panama so the president is alleviating the problem by providing the opportunity go to medical school for more students in order to have more doctors in Panama. A few...

There are very good medical schools in Panama and the government of Panama has made providing quality medicine a high priority. The president recently provided a scholarship to 100 students because studying medicine is a very expensive.
 
The public service hospitals are not enough for the population of Panama so the president is alleviating the problem by providing the opportunity go to medical school for more students in order to have more doctors in Panama. A few years ago, we were also receiving assistance from Cuba and other countries, which provided help for the public pension and public healthcare system in Panama. This is the social security healthcare system in Panama.
 
For the public healthcare system, there are good doctors. There are specialists in Panama City that work in public hospitals, specifically Santo Tomas. It has a good reputation. I know that they have very good specialists there. There are people who can go to a social security hospital but they go for the public health care system instead. An expat living legally in Panama can use the public healthcare system, which is very low cost.
 
As for the private healthcare system, by Panamanian standards, it is very expensive, especially if you go to a specialist. The private healthcare hospitals are more comfortable, which is why it’s expensive. The specialists in the private system also see patients in the public hospital. The same specialists working at Santo Tomas have their own clinics in the private hospital. They are the same exact physicians and are just practicing their medicine in a different facility.
 
I do not get sick frequently but I go to the private hospitals because that is what my insurance covers.
 
A check up with a cardiologist in Panama can cost $80 USD. For obstetrician, it costs around $40 to $50 USD. This is the cost without insurance. If you have insurance, you pay less. For example, I only paid $15 USD for the specialist. My insurance costs $70 USD per month.  

 

(Santo Tomas hospital, Panama, pictured.)

Have been in Panama for 8 years and seen a variety of doctors including specialists and have, without exception, found all to be competent and patient centered.  They all speak English because many have had part of their training in the U.S.

Have been in Panama for 8 years and seen a variety of doctors including specialists and have, without exception, found all to be competent and patient centered.  They all speak English because many have had part of their training in the U.S.

Beware of the answers here.

 

 While it is possible to access quality health care, not without fluency in Spanish, location in Panama and private care hospitals, knowledge of health care.  If you have multiple chronic conditions, or an emergency outside a very few locations outside Panama City then you are not going to have EU, US, Canada or world class outcomes.  Cost for specialized treatment with continuity and the best in...

Beware of the answers here.

 

 While it is possible to access quality health care, not without fluency in Spanish, location in Panama and private care hospitals, knowledge of health care.  If you have multiple chronic conditions, or an emergency outside a very few locations outside Panama City then you are not going to have EU, US, Canada or world class outcomes.  Cost for specialized treatment with continuity and the best in nursing is high. 

 

Note that there is growing resentment by Panamanians in towns and cities of the burden on access and cost for them in Panamanian Social Security facilities.

 

If you have very complex conditions, not just the anecdotal stories told here, then get stabilized and go home to US, Canada or Europe for state of the art care!

Yes the doctors (and dentists) In Panama are excellent. We lived there about 10 years ago, and I went to a doctor in David, Chiriquí province. I fell with my hand into a sharp object which had to be removed; they had to remove it, clean and stitch up the wound. The receptionist at the doctor's rooms doubled as nurse. He had a little theater right there where he did the small operation on my hand- using local anesthetics. The nurse/receptionist stood by and assisted. The...

Yes the doctors (and dentists) In Panama are excellent. We lived there about 10 years ago, and I went to a doctor in David, Chiriquí province. I fell with my hand into a sharp object which had to be removed; they had to remove it, clean and stitch up the wound. The receptionist at the doctor's rooms doubled as nurse. He had a little theater right there where he did the small operation on my hand- using local anesthetics. The nurse/receptionist stood by and assisted. The only "negative" was that whilst they were working on my hand I saw a little plaster falling down from the ceiling of the room (it wasn't close to the bed at all). But I found it humorous as part of the Central American "vibe" and experience. The doctor also gave me all the medication I needed from his own dispensary- something unheard of to me since I am used to getting a prescription then going separately to the drugstore/ pharmacia. Everything together (i.e. consultation, operation, drugs) costed only $14. I was stunned at how cheap it was. 

 

This was not the only time we saw a doctor. My child stepped into glass and had to have a similar visit. Both my wife and I had special treatment done by a dentist (who couldn't speak any English and we could only speak a few words in Spanish). Imagine that- sitting in a dentist chair and explaining, mostly via hand-signals and moans, what's wrong. The service we received was excellent and again, very cheap. The one doctor said she was trained in Mexico or Cuba. Either way, I was very impressed by them.