Health Traveler
Definite Guide to Medical Tourism

Medical Tourism Destinations - Panama

Panama, with its beautiful beaches, tropical climate, and close proximity to the United States and Canada, is becoming a top destination for tourists seeking qualified medical care at an affordable price.

Tourists coming to Panama for medical care can look forward to a healthcare system based on American standards, medical practices and procedures, and hospitals staffed with U.S. trained and board certified doctors and medical personnel. The Joint Commissions International, which sets standards for hospitals worldwide, currently certifies one hospital in Panama for full patient care. However, the country’s other privately owned hospitals are fully certified and accredited by the Panamanian government and federal medical accreditation bodies to meet the healthcare needs of their tourist patients.

Most of these hospitals hold affiliations with internationally known medical organizations including John Hopkins University, Harvard Medical School, Beth Israel Medical Center, and Miami Children’s Hospital.

Whether you are looking to get a hip or knee replaced, wanting breast augmentation, or searching for the latest in stem cell therapy, doctors in Panama are current on the latest techniques and procedures. Common services for medical travelers include cosmetic and plastic surgeries, orthopedic surgeries, fertility treatments, bariatric and obesity surgeries, cancer treatments and oncology, and the latest in eye surgeries, including LASIK and cataract surgery.

Additionally, your medical costs in Panama can run anywhere from 35% to 85% cheaper than they would in the United States depending on the procedure. For example, in vitro fertilization at a US hospital typically costs between $9,000 and $18,000. In Panama, the same procedure will run you $4,000 to $6,000 -- a savings of 55% to 75%. On an average, medical treatment in Panama is 50% to 60% cheaper than you’ll find in the United States.

While you’re visiting Panama for your medical treatment, you’ll be able to enjoy all the culture and sights of this beautiful Central American country without worrying about a language barrier or currency issues.

The main language of Panama is Spanish, but almost all Panamanians speak some English with around a quarter of those speaking it fluently, particularly in the business and professional sectors. English is taught in the schools and Panamanians have a literacy rate of approximately 88%. Outside of the urban areas, you’ll find native languages spoken in the AmerIndian tribal communities, including among them some Buglere, Yue, and Teribe speakers. Some Panamanians even speak a Latinized version of the Creole French and Creole English spoken in Quebec and Louisiana in North America.

Because of its close historical ties to the United States, Panama uses the American dollar, as well as its own Balboa, as currency. A fixed exchange rate of 1:1 established in 1903 when the US took over the building of the Panama Canal means that your dollar and the Panamanian Balboa are virtually interchangeable in the marketplace. Panama no longer prints the Balboa but currently mints coins in denominations of 1, 5, 10, 25, 50, and 100 centesimos. The coins are identical in shape and size to US coins and can be easily confused with American money. Since the exchange rate never changes, this is not a problem for tourists.

You won’t need your winter clothing to visit Panama. Located close to the equator, this narrow country stays warm and moist year round, averaging 70 degrees F in the evenings and 93 degrees during the day. Wear lightweight “breathable” natural-fiber clothing to stave off the high humidity. You’ll want to take a sweater or light jacket to visit the mountainous regions where temperatures range from 66 degrees during the day to 50 degrees at night. Check the average temperature of the zone you’re staying in and pack accordingly; higher altitudes require warmer clothing.

If you’re traveling to Panama between May and November, you’ll want to pack an umbrella and light-weight rain gear as this is the country’s wet season. Short, heavy cloudbursts are not uncommon during this time with some areas seeing an inch of rainfall daily. The Caribbean side of the country typically gets more rainfall than the Pacific side even during Panama’s dry season. Running between December and April, the dry season also sees some showers, but they are usually light and short-lived. High winds are a factor year-round with wind speeds rarely falling below 9 miles an hour.

You’ll want to visit Panama City, its country’s capital and largest city. Located at the Pacific end of the Panama Canal, the city is a hub for international commerce and has all the amenities of a modern metropolitan area, including Internet access, a skyline filled with high-rise buildings, and close proximity to an international airport. Originally established in 1519 as a starting point for Spanish expeditions into Incan Peru, the city’s old quarter, called Casco Antiguo, boasts architectural styles ranging from Spanish Colonial to Antillean and French buildings erected during the construction of the Panama Canal.

Take a camera and your walking shoes to sight-see at the Panama Viejo -- the original city structure destroyed by fire in 1671 and now a national historical property. You’ll also want to check out the Palacio De Las Garzas, the Palace of the Herons, the presidential palace known for the herons that call the building home.

You can’t go to Panama without seeing the Panama Canal. When the US took over construction of the canal from the French in 1903, their engineers built a mechanical marvel that serves the international shipping industry from the Atlantic to the Pacific Oceans. The Miraflores Locks Visitors Center offers a historical exposition as well as a restaurant view where you can watch the cargo ships passing through the locks as you relax with a glass of local wine.

If shopping is your entertainment of choice, Panama City offers a realm of opportunities to pick up artisan goods and discounted electronics. The Balboa Artisans Market is a 15-minute drive from downtown and allows you to haggle with the artists themselves for a good deal. While there, look for bargains on “molas,” intricate fabric panel designs fashioned by the Kuna Indians, and Panamanian woven leaf baskets made out of the leaves of native palm trees. Like any modern urban area, Panama City has its share of commercial malls where you can purchase fine gemstone jewelry and electronics at a third less than what you would pay in the US.

While you can visit other major cities in Panama including Potobelo, Santiago, Colon, La Palma, and Cristobal, the beaches, rural villages, and outlying areas of Panama have their own attractions for tourists. The Bocas Tel Toro archipelago is home to Bocas Town, a collection of small, inexpensive guest houses originally built to house the workers of United Fruit Company during Panama’s colonial era. Stay overnight in one of the houses and rent a boat to ferry you to the National Marine Park in a lagoon on the nearby island of Bastimentos. With nine islands and more than 200 islets spread over the archipelago, it’s a perfect spot to recuperate while enjoying the sand and sun. Snorkeling is encouraged.

The Kuna Indians keep the traditions of their ancient culture alive inhabiting the San Blas Islands, located off Panama’s Atlantic coast. Every morning, the women of the village pray to the gods to see newly departed friends and family off to heaven. As they watch over the graves of their dead, the women weave their molas and chat amongst the burning incense. Friendly and gregarious, the local people enjoy showing visitors around their islands and introducing them to days of snorkeling the coral reefs and lounging in hammocks while admiring the ocean view.

You must have a valid passport to visit Panama and will be charged $5 for a tourist card when you purchase your airline ticket. To obtain a multiple entry visa, you will need to contact the Panamanian embassy or Panamanian consulate before traveling.