With this background it is no wonder that Panama is now in the vanguard of the new concept of health tourism. Health care in developed countries is generally exorbitantly expensive, often dogged by long waiting lists and indifferent care. Now, especially in the internet age of universal communication, people from these countries are realizing that they can get as good or better treatment in other countries at a lower cost - and have a holiday into the bargain.
In Panama, health and medical tourism is growing rapidly, mostly because our medical professionals are well-trained abroad, bi-lingual and board-certified; and our hospitals have the latest technologies for surgery and sophisticated procedures. On most procedures Panama offers savings of more than 50% over US and European prices and in addition, medical expenses (including travel) can be deductible under US tax law. The fascination with fitness, beauty and alternative therapies is another factor in the growth of health tourism.
The services a foreigner can find here include dental implants (average cost in the US $2,500. In Panama $1,000) plastic surgery, assisted reproduction, cardiology and ophthalmology. State of the art CAT scanning machines, tri-dimensional computer reconstructions and the latest radio therapies for cancer are some of the technologies available at Panama's hospitals. The recent influx of "Baby Boomers" into Panama will serve to keep improving the facilities offered here.
Hospitals in Panama City which cater to foreign visitors are Centro Medico Paitilla ( affiliated with the Cleveland Clinic Foundation), Hospital Nacional and Hospital Punta Pacifica ( affiliated to Johns Hopkins Medicine International)
Another of Panama City's major hospitals is Clinica Hospital San Fernando ( affliated with Tulane University Health Sciences Center, Hospital and Clinic, Miami Children's Hospital and Baptist Health International of Miamai) which has recently opened the Clinica San Fernando in Coronado offering 24 hour service to the growing ex-pat communities of Coronado, San Carlos, El Valle, Altos de Maria and Buenaventura. Their services include radiography, ultrasound and CAT scans; laboratory; dental and eye clinics and general medicine consultations teamed with specialist consultants in their main hospital in Panama City.
Hospital Chiriqui in David, province of Chriqui, provides comprehensive health care. Alternative,complementary and preventative medicine are also well-represented in Panama. In the two Chinatowns of Panama City, practitioners prescribe imported herbs which are available in Chinese supermarkets. Acupuncture has its own professional body here - -a branch of the Circulo de Investigadores de Acupunctura de China.
Other disciplines include Homeopathy, Homotoxology, Herbal Medicine, Prolotherapy, Intravenous Quelation, Magnetotherapy, Manual Therapies (Chiropractic, Reibi).
Then there are thermal springs in El Valle and Chiriqui where tourism and health truly merge. Even the humble Noni fruit, grown in Panamanian back gardens everywhere, proven to boost the immune system and sold cheaply in the supermarkets, adds to Panama's healthy image.
For additional information and listings of hospitals, clinics, and ambulance services visit our section Health Services in Panama and/or Panama Medical Tourism.
