Overview of Panama Physicians, Credentials and Training

Panama has specialists available in all the specialties to be found in the USA, Canada or the EU. The differences between these countries and Panama when it comes to seeing a specialist are vast. Let me explain. I went to see an ENT doctor once in a clinic in Panama and he spent almost one full hour with me and I was only charged $25.00. Yes he was able to talk to me in English just fine. In the USA, I would have been charged about $100.00 and would've been lucky if he spent 15 minutes with me. Some Panama physicians have studied abroad (particularly the U.S.) until time to serve their internship. Then, if practicing medicine in Panama is important the Panamanian government requires intern to complete their residency in Panama. Some Panama doctors are American Board Certified in fact and some even have American Medical Licenses. It easy to correctly assume, the doctors in Panama are excellent. Unlike in the U.S., where medicine has become 'Big Money Game' the doctors in Panama are afforded the luxury of still being able to CARE about their patients rather than their medical malpractice insurance rates.

Cost and Refilling Existing Prescriptions in Panama We have experienced being able to take our empty prescription bottles into the local pharmacy and have them refilled without any questions, hassles or unnecessary and costly trips to the Doctor for a refill. The only exception to this is serious narcotics like heavy pain meds, antibiotics and it seems most other medications can be bought over-the-counter. Are you aware that soon in the U.S., most vitamins and supplements will require a doctor's prescription? For example, Vitamin C of more than 200 mg will be a prescription item as it is already in the U.K. Our experiences with the ease and availability of refilling prescriptions added great comfort to our lives. My husband's eye medicine runs around $90/month self insured state side costs and is about 1/3 the cost in panama for same medicine, same manufacturer. Many medications will run about 30% to 40% of what they cost in the USA with no difference in the medicine.

In addition to the already much reduced price as compared to the prescription costs in the U.S., not to be forgotten is the 10% discount given for many services to individuals with Pensionado visas, plus not having to keep paying the Doctor for refills.

General cost of Medical Care in Panama As with most things in Panama you can spend as much or little as you like. The same rule applies to a great extent with physicians.

Most doctors in Panama besides being in private practice also are required to work at the public hospitals (Seguro social). The problem with using the Seguro social system isn't related to the quality of care but is related to being at the hospital clinic at 6:00 a.m. and waiting most of the day to have your turn for an examination. Then, this is a life style decision. You can choose see a physician in the public hospital for $10-15, or you can choose to make an appointment with him in his private practice $35. With that said, what follows are rates and fees at the private practice level in Panama.

I had a broken tooth that I needed to have repaired. My office visit, x-rays, and composite filling were $89. A root canal would have been around $70 with an additional $25 for the filling.

A surgery in the states that would typically run $40,000 would be around $15,000 in Panama. Remember, no AMA and no U.S. insurance companies. In the U.S. coronary surgery is running in the $50,000-60,000 range. In Panama the same surgery will cost in the $10,000-15,000 range in Panama's finest hospitals. In addition, the rates of success and complications are comparable to U.S. rates. Most of the elective surgeries will run about 25% to 40% of what they cost in the USA.

An initial visit to a Mental Health Care Professional will run you about $25.00. Doctors are by U.S. standards very inexpensive with $35 being a good average price for office visits. Remember, as stated early our ENT doctor was $25 for an office visit. And hold on to your hat, while we have not checked on the price yet doctors still make house calls. And it's not unusual for your attending physician to call you at home, even on the weekend to see how you're progressing - imagine that. Some of you probably can remember Doctor House Calls in the States going back about 40 or 50 years.

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Overall large differences in price such as the one written here exist in all areas of medical and surgical procedures.

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