Medical Tourism in Panama
Panama is a popular Latin American destination for medical tourists in part because of its close proximity to the U.S. (only a 2.5 hour flight from Miami; 4 from Houston). But that's not the only reason people flock to Panama to undergo operations.
Panama is home to numerous state of the art medical facilities with many doctors trained in the U.S., Europe, and Canada as well as all over the world. Panama is also home to the newly opened Punta Pacifica Hospital which is affiliated with one of the most prestigious and well respected hospitals in the U.S., Johns Hopkins. Due to this affiliation, patients can expect to receive the same level of care as they would at the affiliated hospital.
Because so many doctors are trained abroad, a majority speak English and can treat patients with the same expertise and technology they would be treated with in their home country. In fact, English is one of the official languages of Panama. Also due to this, many are certified by the same organizations as American doctors, making qualification less of a worry.
Panamanian hospitals have expertise in performing a wide variety of procedures from cosmetic surgeries and dental implants to orthopedic surgery and in-vitro fertilization. While Panama shares a currency with the U.S., procedures are still strikingly cheaper than in the United States, sometimes at less than half the cost for the same level of quality. Panama also boasts short waits for patients that need immediate care, unlike many hospitals in the U.S. and Europe where it can take months to schedule a surgery.
For the tourism part of your visit, Panama City, the capital of Panama, is fast becoming one of the hotspots of Central America. This cosmopolitan city is near thousands of miles of pristine beaches, rainforests and mountains allowing you to spend your pre or post operative time enjoying a relaxing environment. Many hospitals popular with medical tourists are strategically located along the coast, making them near beautiful scenery as well as high class hotels, casinos, shopping, fine dining and famous landmarks like the Panama Canal. Other popular Central/South American destinations include Argentina, Brazil, and Costa Rica.
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