Medical Tourism In Panama Continues To Grow

Panama is about to get its second Johns Hopkins Medicine International Hospital, a reflection of the country’s growing medical tourism industry.

The state-of-the-art hospital is currently under construction in the Costa del Este area of Panama City. It was estimated that 2.2 million citizens from the United States alone would travel internationally in 2020 for medical procedures. Medical tourists come seeking everything from hip replacement surgery to Stem Cell or Virto Fertilization (IVF) treatments.

Affiliated with the United States

The first Hopkins-affiliated hospital in Panama, Punta Pacifico Hospital, opened in 2006 and immediately started attracting attention when it achieved accreditation from the Joint Commission International.

The Joint Commission, based in the United States, accredits over 22,000 hospitals and healthcare facilities domestically and is considered the gold standard for maintaining rigorous quality of care. International hospitals and healthcare providers who gain accreditation, must adhere to those same high standards found in the top rated hospitals in the United States.

Part of the reason Punta Pacifico Hospital is so highly regarded is, in part, because they affiliated with the world-renowned Johns Hopkins Medicine even before architectural plans had been developed. The partnership provided and continues to provide Punta Pacifico Hospital with staff training, access to world-renowned medical specialists and top-ranked protocols for patient safety and care.

First Heart Transplant in Panama

The affiliation has resulted in impressive milestones, such as performing the first heart transplant in Panama in 2016 and implementing clinical initiatives such as a new stroke program and pediatric emergency department.

The Costa del Este Hospital will become the second Hopkins affiliated hospital in Panama when it opens its doors, scheduled for late 2020. Accreditation by The Joint Commission is expected as soon as possible.

Saving Thousands

Even with the highest standards of patent care and procedures, healthcare costs in Panama are routinely 50 to 80% less than in the United States. For example, hip replacement surgeries, including a five-day hospital stay, can run around $20,000 in Panama. In the United States, with a 23-hour stay in the hospital, hip replacement costs around $125,000 on average.

A few other common treatment costs, as of 2019:

• Cataract surgery: $2,000-3,000 Panama | $5,500-6,500 U.S.
• Root canal: $250-350 Panama | $900-1,100 U.S
• Herniated disc: $2,500-3,500 Panama | $6,000-8,000 U.S

IVF Treatments

Many people come to Panama for procedures that aren’t covered by their insurance, such as In Vitro Fertilization (IVF). Depending on the clinic and geographic location, a single IVF procedure in the U.S. will cost between $9,000 and $18,000. In Panama, the cost is $4,000 to $6,000.

Of the two physicians performing IVF treatments at Punta Pacifico Hospital, they both received specialty training in New York. With a bit of research, a couple can take a vacation, complete an IVF treatment, and save thousands of dollars by coming to Panama.

What about Insurance?

Some US-based insurance companies, including United Healthcare and Blue Cross and Blue Shield, have started testing options allowing patients to go to foreign countries for medical procedures. The practice is not yet widespread. Medicare usually won’t cover procedures performed in non-U.S. facilities.

Sadly, the cost of healthcare in the U.S. can be so staggering, it can actually be cheaper to pay out of pocket in Panama. Canadians, who have free healthcare, might elect Panama to access treatments more quickly or for elective procedures. Many people just enjoy turning their recovery time into a quiet vacation–  Panama has luxurious resorts and rentals for medical tourists during and after their procedures.