HEALTHCARE IN PANAMA

Medical care available in Panama is reputable and affordable. Many doctors practicing in panama have been trained in countries with high medical standards and the standards of the top hospitals compare favorably to U.S. standards. Modern hospitals and clinics are distributed throughout the country in the metropolitan areas but the more isolated your location, the farther you are from first-rate medical care.

In the city of David in the Chiriqui Province in the Western region of Panama, there is a great medical center with modern facilities. There are four private hospitals: Hospital Mae Lewis, Hospital Chiriqui, Hospital Cooperative and Hospital Catan. There are also two public hospitals: Jose Domingo de Obaldia and Regional Rafael Hernadez, plus numerous private and public medical clinics.

Many Panamanian doctors are U.S. trained and the standards at the top hospitals compare favorably with those in the United States. The doctors at the private hospitals generally speak English and many Specialists have been trained in the USA or Canada.

Private health insurance is available and much less expensive than insurance in the U.S. because Doctor’s fees and hospital visits are much cheaper. One reason why health insurance here is so affordable is that malpractice insurance is very low because the laws do not allow for frivolous suits and the median income is around $300 a month, so healthcare cannot be expensive or no one would use it. Most of the medical insurance plans available in Panama are sold by private insurance brokers and the coverage is provided through insurance companies who are affiliated with the large multi-national companies that operate in North America or globally, such as, the Mutual Group, etc.

Generally, if you deal through an insurance broker, they will be able to offer a wide range of insurer carriers and coverage. If you prefer, you can deal directly with the insurance companies or private hospitals offering their own plans. The process for buying medical insurance is quite similar to what it would be in North America and on average the premiums cost about $600.00 to $700.00 per year based on your age bracket, state of health, etc.

Prices for prescription drugs are low as well because manufacturers price them for the market. Plus, many drugs that require a prescription in the States are available over the counter in Panama.