Contents of this guide
What medical tourism is and why Panama
Medical tourism is a person’s travel to another country to receive a scheduled treatment, from a dental cleaning to heart surgery, combining the care with the stay. Panama has established itself as an emerging destination in Latin America thanks to a combination few countries in the region bring together: private hospitals with international accreditation, doctors trained in the United States and Europe, a dollarised economy and an airport, Tocumen, with 97 direct destinations and almost 21 million passengers in 2025, as covered in Radar Panamá’s analysis of tourism in the country.
Sector estimates put the number of international patients treated each year at around 50,000, mostly from the United States, Canada, the Caribbean and neighbouring countries in Central and South America. The Panama Tourism Authority does not yet publish a specific patient statistic, so the figure should be read as indicative.
International accreditation
Two hospitals with the seal of the Joint Commission International, the hospital quality standard most recognised by insurers and patients in North America.
Real savings
The sector’s firms put average savings at around 50% compared with the United States in cosmetic surgery, dentistry and orthopaedics, with comparable standards.
Proximity and the dollar
Direct flights of three to five hours from the main US cities, with no currency exchange or exchange risk.
Recovery in a destination
Convalescence hotels, beaches less than two hours away and a safe city for companions, a factor that weighs in the choice.
Accredited hospitals and the public network
The reference for a foreign patient is accreditation by the Joint Commission International (JCI), which audits safety protocols, infection control and patient care with the same criteria it applies to the large hospitals of the United States. In Panama two private centres in Panama City hold it.
| Centre | Type | Accreditation or affiliation | Notable specialties |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hospital Punta Pacífica (Pacífica Salud) | Private | JCI since 2011; the only hospital in Central America affiliated with Johns Hopkins Medicine International | Cardiology, oncology, orthopaedics, neurosurgery, executive check-ups |
| Clínica Hospital San Fernando | Private | JCI; the country’s first accredited hospital | General surgery, orthopaedics, gynaecology, internal medicine |
| Hospital Paitilla | Private | Hospiten Group (Spain) | Cosmetic surgery, ophthalmology, emergencies |
| Ciudad de la Salud | Public (Social Security Fund) | 31.9-hectare complex, four high-complexity hospitals and five institutes | 1,368 beds and 256 intensive care units; care for insured patients |
Most requested treatments
International demand concentrates on schedulable procedures, with high cost in the country of origin and short recovery. Sector operators and specialist publications agree on four groups.
| Area | Common procedures | Typical stay | Patient profile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dentistry | Implants, crowns, orthodontics, veneers, full rehabilitation | 3 to 10 days, sometimes over two trips | United States and Canada, over 45 |
| Cosmetic surgery | Rhinoplasty, tummy tuck, breast augmentation and reduction, liposuction | 7 to 14 days with follow-up | North America and the Caribbean, 30 to 55 |
| Orthopaedics | Knee and hip replacements, arthroscopy, spine | 10 to 21 days with rehabilitation | Retirees and resident expatriates |
| Executive check-ups and cardiology | Comprehensive one-day review, catheterisation, scheduled heart surgery | 1 to 7 days | Executives from the region, patients with international insurance |
| Bariatric and fertility | Gastric sleeve, bypass, in vitro fertilisation | 5 to 14 days | Caribbean, Central America, United States |
How a medical trip is organised step by step
- Remote consultation and fixed quote. Accredited hospitals offer assessment by video call with the patient’s history and provide a written quote that includes fees, hospital, anaesthesia and check-ups.
- Credential verification. The centre’s accreditation and the doctor’s licence in the Ministry of Health register are checked. The registration number and specialty are requested.
- Trip coordination. Several hospitals have international patient departments that manage transfers, hotel and companion. Flexible flights are advisable in case the post-operative period runs long.
- Pre-operative in Panama. Tests, imaging and in-person consultation take place 24 to 72 hours before the procedure. It is the moment to sign consents in a language the patient understands.
- Procedure and hospitalisation. Private centres offer single rooms and bilingual staff. The companion can usually stay.
- Recovery and discharge. The doctor sets the minimum period before flying. After major surgery it is inadvisable to fly within 7 to 10 days because of the risk of thrombosis.
- Remote follow-up. Check-ups by video call and a contact in the country of origin are agreed in case a complication arises.
What to verify before deciding
- Accreditation of the centre and not just the doctor. An excellent surgeon in a clinic without accreditation does not offer the same safety and infection control guarantees.
- Insurance coverage. Most US policies do not cover scheduled treatments abroad. There are specific medical tourism and complications insurance policies.
- What the price includes. A serious quote details fees, hospital, anaesthesia, medication, check-ups and reviews. What is not in writing is not included.
- Complications plan. Who treats a complication at 30 days, where and at what cost. It is the question most patients forget.
- Real recovery time. Packages promising surgery and beach in the same week underestimate the post-operative period.
- Documentation. A foreign patient enters Panama as a tourist; for long stays or repeated treatments it is worth reviewing the immigration options explained in Radar Panamá’s guide to residency in Panama.
The business behind it: who gains from the international patient
The global medical tourism market is estimated at around 182 billion dollars in 2025, 23% more than the year before, according to the figures reported by Panamanian business media. Panama captures a small fraction, but each international patient spends several times more than a conventional tourist and travels with a companion. Around the hospital, convalescence hotels, dental clinics, laboratories, transfers, translators, facilitator agencies and insurers are activated.
For an entrepreneur, the opportunities lie in the services surrounding the procedure rather than in the procedure itself: accommodation adapted to recovery, patient coordination, home physiotherapy and platforms that gather verified quotes. Anyone wanting to set up a company to operate in this niche will find the process detailed in Radar Panamá’s guide to opening a company in Panama.
Frequently asked questions about medical tourism in Panama
Which hospitals in Panama hold international accreditation?
Hospital Punta Pacífica (Pacífica Salud), affiliated with Johns Hopkins Medicine International and accredited by the JCI since 2011, and Clínica Hospital San Fernando, the country’s first JCI-accredited hospital.
How much does a foreign patient save in Panama?
The sector’s firms put average savings at around 50% compared with the United States in dentistry, cosmetic surgery and orthopaedics. Savings depend on the procedure and the hospital, so it is advisable to ask for a fixed written quote.
Which are the most requested treatments?
Dentistry (implants and rehabilitation), cosmetic surgery, orthopaedics (knee and hip replacements), executive check-ups and cardiology, and to a lesser extent bariatric surgery and fertility.
Is a visa needed to receive medical treatment in Panama?
Citizens of most countries in the Americas and Europe enter as tourists without a visa for up to 90 or 180 days depending on nationality. For long or repeated treatments there are residency permits on other grounds.
How do you verify that a doctor is licensed in Panama?
By checking their licence in the register of the Technical Health Council of the Ministry of Health, which is public, and asking the hospital for the registration number and certified specialty.
What is Ciudad de la Salud?
A public hospital complex of the Social Security Fund in Panama City, with four high-complexity hospitals, five institutes, 1,368 beds and 256 intensive care units, for insured patients.
Does health insurance cover treatment in Panama?
Most national policies do not cover scheduled treatments abroad. There are medical tourism and complications insurance policies, and some international insurers include Panamanian hospitals in their network.
How long do you have to stay after surgery?
It depends on the procedure: 3 to 10 days in dentistry, 7 to 14 in cosmetic surgery and 10 to 21 in orthopaedics. After major surgery doctors advise against flying within 7 to 10 days.
Sources
- Joint Commission International, hospital accreditation body.
- Pacífica Salud, Hospital Punta Pacífica, affiliation with Johns Hopkins Medicine International.
- Ministry of Health of Panama, register of licensed professionals.
- Social Security Fund, Ciudad de la Salud.
- Panamá aspira incrementar su potencial de turismo médico, La Estrella de Panamá.
- Turismo médico, abanico de opciones, Panamá América.
- Best International Hospitals in Panama, International Citizens Insurance.
- Panama Tourism Authority, visitor statistics.
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