Panama Hospitals: What To Do When You Need Medical Treatment

Panama’s private hospitals offer world-class care at up to 75% less than U.S. prices, with short wait times and English-speaking doctors available across the country.

One of the main issues expats worry about when they move to a new country is how they’re going to find high-quality and affordable medical care. Fortunately, Panama has you covered on both fronts.

Panama boasts a handful of quality hospitals that offer the latest treatments and procedures, advanced technology, comfortable amenities, and English-speaking doctors.

Even in the country’s top hospitals, you can receive care that’s up to 75% less expensive than in high-cost healthcare nations like the United States.

Plus, Panama is so small that no matter where you are in the country, you’d never need to drive more than a couple hours to reach a hospital.

Lots of expats – including me – tell stories about their positive experiences with Panamanian hospitals. We like the short wait times, low cost, and friendly care from doctors and nurses.

This article is a guide to hospitals in Panama. You will learn about public and private facilities, the nation’s top hospitals, waiting times and costs, scheduling appointments, the hospital experience, health insurance options, and more.

Advertisement: If you’re in Panama and need to visit a hospital, Air Doctor helps you book appointments with English-speaking doctors quickly and easily. Whether you’re looking for an in-person visit or an online consultation, the app connects you with reliable medical professionals without the language barrier.

Types of Hospitals in Panama

The Panamanian healthcare system is divided into public and private sectors.

Here’s an overview of the two systems.

Public Hospitals

Panamanian public hospitals are run by the government’s Ministry of Health (MINSA) and Caja de Seguro Social (Social Security).

Together these two government bodies are in charge of about 30 hospitals nationwide.

The largest and most well-known public hospitals include:

• Hospital Santo Tomás and Hospital del Niño in Panama City
• Hospital Regional Dr. Rafael Hernández in David
• Hospital Regional Anita Moreno in Los Santos
• Hospital Gustavo Nelson Collado in Chitré.

Public hospital hours are usually 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. for non-emergency care. The emergency room (sala de urgencias in Spanish) is open 24 hours, 7 days a week.

Public hospitals offer a wide range of services, such as cardiology, geriatrics, endocrinology, neurology, gynecology and obstetrics, general medicine, X-rays, diagnostic tests, and surgeries.

These procedures are very cheap, which is why some expats in Panama choose to receive medical attention at public facilities and pay out of pocket.

Just keep in mind that due to the affordability of government hospitals, lines can be quite long. The solution is to arrive early, ideally when the facility opens, to avoid a long wait.

Private Hospitals

Panama’s private healthcare system stands out as one of the best in Latin America.

Its hospitals are modern and equipped with advanced technology, offering the latest treatments. Many doctors in these facilities have studied medicine in the United States and speak English.

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In Panama City, Pacífica Salud says both of its hospitals, Punta Pacífica and Costa del Este, hold Joint Commission International (JCI) accreditation. The Panama Clinic lists TEMOS and Planetree accreditations instead. (Verified November 2026.)

Hospital Punta Pacífica and Hospital San Fernando are preferred choices for expats due to their excellent, personalized service. If you’re still researching where to settle, our guide to retiring in Panama covers which areas offer the best access to private medical care.

Panama’s private hospitals are increasingly attracting international attention, leading to a rise in medical tourism. People from high-cost healthcare countries are drawn to Panama for its expert care at lower prices.

Private hospitals in Panama provide amenities like private rooms, air conditioning, and short (sometimes zero) wait times.

Expats often report that the level of care they receive here is equal to or better than that in their home country.

Best Hospitals In Panama

The best hospitals in Panama for expats are the big private hospitals in Panama City, plus two private hospitals in David for people living in Chiriquí and Boquete. These are the ones expats use most:

• Hospital Punta Pacífica (Panama City)
• The Panama Clinic (Panama City)
• Hospital Paitilla (Panama City)
• Hospital San Fernando (Panama City)
• Hospital Nacional (Panama City)
• Centro Médico Mae Lewis (David)
• Hospital Chiriquí (David)

Hospital	Area	Quality marks	24-hour ER	International insurers on its list (examples)
Hospital Punta Pacífica (Pacífica Salud)	Punta Pacífica, Panama City	JCI accreditation, Johns Hopkins Medicine International affiliate	Yes, (507) 204-8184	Cigna, Bupa Global, Allianz, Aetna International, International SOS and many more
The Panama Clinic	Pacific Center, Punta Pacífica	TEMOS, Planetree	Yes, (507) 310-1121	Travel and international health plans; TRICARE and veterans desk
Hospiten Paitilla	Balboa Avenue, Paitilla	Part of the Spanish Hospiten group	Yes, (507) 265-8888	Shares the Hospiten group’s international insurer agreements
Hospital Nacional	Cuba Avenue, Panama City	ISO 9001:2015; lab ISO 15189	Yes, (507) 207-8100	Ask the hospital before you go
Centro Médico Mae Lewis	Interamericana, David	Private hospital since 1993	Yes, (507) 775-4616	TRICARE, Cigna, Bupa, Aetna, Allianz, GeoBlue, VUMI, Medicare Advantage, VA Foreign Medical Program
Hospital Chiriquí	David	Private hospital since 1988	Yes, (507) 774-0127	Blue Cross Blue Shield, VA Foreign Medical Program, Redbridge, AXA Assistance

Let’s take a look at each one and the reasons why it’s a top choice for expats in Panama.

Hospital Punta Pacífica

Hospital Punta Pacífica is located in the Punta Pacífica neighborhood of Panama City, which is an expat favorite. Hospital Punta Pacífica is affiliated with Johns Hopkins Medicine International and sits in the top ten of América Economía’s ranking of the best hospitals in Latin America.

Hospital Punta Pacífica provides excellent care in many departments, including urology, cardiology, orthopedics, physical therapy, gastroenterology, endoscopy, neurology, dermatology, gynecology and obstetrics, nephrology, endocrinology, pediatrics, and more. There’s also a 24-hour emergency room.

The hospital boasts innovative cardiovascular and robotic surgery centers.

Many doctors who work in the hospital were trained at Johns Hopkins and speak fluent English. Hospital Punta Pacífica is the top hospital in Panama, making it the number-one choice for many expats.

Pacífica Salud opened Punta Pacífica in 2006 and added a second hospital in Costa del Este in February 2022. Both are JCI-accredited, according to the group. (Verified November 2026.)

The emergency room is where Punta Pacífica stands out. The hospital says it’s the only one in Panama that keeps emergency medicine specialists on duty 24 hours a day.

• Emergency line: (507) 204-8184, adult and pediatric ERs open 24/7.
• Robotic surgery: the Hugo RAS robot, which Pacífica Salud says was the first in Latin America.
• International insurance: a long published list, including Cigna, Bupa Global, Allianz, Aetna International, International SOS and William Russell.

Hospital Paitilla

Hospital Paitilla is found in the upscale Paitilla neighborhood, another expat-popular zone and a highly accessible area. The hospital’s own website now brands it Hospiten Paitilla. It has been open since 1975 and is part of Hospiten, a Spanish hospital group with sites in Europe and the Americas.

This is another excellent facility with cardiology, plastic surgery, dermatology, endocrinology, speech therapy, gastroenterology, geriatrics, gynecology and obstetrics, hematology, psychology and psychiatry, pediatrics, rheumatology, neurology, and many other departments.

In Hospital Punta Pacífica and Hospital Paitilla you’ll receive top-notch care and be attended by English-speaking medical professionals.

Both facilities offer internal medicine, emergency care, general surgery, and specialized surgery, like brain and heart operations.

Hospiten Paitilla works with the main local insurers and shares the Hospiten group’s international insurer agreements. You don’t need an appointment. Walk-ins are seen in order of arrival, and the emergency line is (507) 265-8888. (Verified November 2026.)

The Panama Clinic

The Panama Clinic is a private hospital in Punta Pacífica and is part of the Pacific Center campus, where you’ll also find a shopping mall, Marriott Residence Inn hotel, and doctor’s offices. It was designed based upon U.S. and European standards and features advanced procedures like robotic surgery.

Services offered at this facility include a 24-hour emergency room, radiology and laboratory, maternity, pharmacy, surgery, hospitalization and intensive care, medical tourism, and preoperative care.

The Panama Clinic also features a urology institute, eye surgery institute, physical and rehabilitative medicine clinic, and robotic surgery institute.

It’s a mid-sized hospital with 460 specialists, 76 beds and 14 operating rooms. The international office helps in Spanish, English, Portuguese, French and Greek. (Verified November 2026.)

There’s also a desk for U.S. veterans and TRICARE patients, and the hospital says it’s the only private hospital in Panama with its own helipad. The 24-hour emergency line is (507) 310-1121.

The Panama Clinic holds TEMOS accreditation for quality of care and for medical tourism, and it carries a four-star score in the Newsweek and Statista global hospital rating.

Hospital San Fernando

Hospital San Fernando is the oldest hospital in this list, dating back to 1949. This facility is located on the Vía España in Panama City. San Fernando also operates a smaller hospital-clinic in the Coronado beach community.

The Panama City branch operates urology and cardiovascular centers, a sleep clinic, and an institute dedicated to pneumology and allergy studies. Additionally, the hospital has a pharmacy, 24-hour emergency room, and a selection of walk-in services like lab tests, radiology, ambulatory surgery, and hemodialysis.

Hospital San Fernando offers various departments, such as rheumatology, psychology and psychiatry, ear/nose/throat services, orthopedics, pediatrics, maternity, cancer treatments, nutrition, ophthalmology, neurophysiology, general medicine, rehabilitative medicine, surgeries, and much more.

With English-speaking staff and an English version of the website, Hospital San Fernando is convenient for English-speaking expats.

Hospital Nacional

Hospital Nacional is a private hospital on Cuba Avenue in Panama City that has been treating patients since 1973. It’s less flashy than Punta Pacífica, and plenty of local families use it.

Its directory lists more than 250 specialists. Hospital Nacional brought da Vinci robotic surgery to Panama about 11 years ago and has done more than 2,000 robotic procedures since.

• Emergency room and pharmacy: open 24 hours, 7 days a week. The main line is (507) 207-8100.
• Quality marks: ISO 9001:2015 certification, and its clinical lab is accredited to ISO 15189.
• Insurance: the website doesn’t publish an insurer list, so call before a planned visit.

Hospitals in David and Boquete

David has two private hospitals that most expats in Chiriquí use: Centro Médico Mae Lewis and Hospital Chiriquí. Both have 24-hour emergency rooms and accept international insurance.

David is the second-largest city in Panama, and for people in Boquete it’s where the nearest hospital is.

Centro Médico Mae Lewis

Centro Médico Mae Lewis is the go-to medical facility for expats living in Chiriquí province.

Centro Médico Mae Lewis’ numerous departments include cardiology, family medicine, general surgery, neurosurgery, adult and pediatric allergology, laparoscopic surgery, plastic surgery, odontology, pathology, traumatology, peripheral vascular surgery, ophthalmology, gynecology and obstetrics, geriatrics, and many others.

You can also count on 24-hour emergency, pharmacy, and laboratory services. Expats report that many doctors and nurses at Centro Médico Mae Lewis speak English.

Mae Lewis opened in 1993 on the Interamericana highway. Its insurer page is useful for North Americans. It lists TRICARE, Medicare Advantage and the VA Foreign Medical Program next to Cigna, Bupa, Aetna, Allianz, GeoBlue and VUMI. (Verified November 2026.)

Hospital Chiriquí

Hospital Chiriquí is the other big private hospital in David. It opened in July 1988 and covers most of what you’d need short of a transplant.

• Emergency line: (507) 774-0127.
• Services: intensive care, a cardiac catheter lab, hemodialysis, operating rooms, labor and neonatal care, and endoscopy.
• International insurance: Blue Cross Blue Shield, the VA Foreign Medical Program, Redbridge and AXA Assistance, plus the main Panamanian insurers.

If You Live in Boquete

Boquete has no hospital of its own. Panama’s official statistics list a public health centre and a public polyclinic (Policlínica Ernesto Pérez Balladares) in the district, which handle check-ups and minor problems.

For an ER visit, surgery or a scan, you’ll drive down to David. Save both David hospitals’ emergency numbers before you need them, and read our guide to driving in Panama if you’re new to the roads.

Regional Public Hospitals by Province

Every province has a regional public hospital, and these are your fallback if you live outside Panama City. Most expats still head to a private hospital in the capital or David for anything serious.

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The U.S. Embassy in Panama lists these regional hospitals on its medical assistance page. It also warns that private hospitals in Panama City will normally provide service in English, but public hospitals may not. Bring a translation app or a Spanish-speaking friend.

Province	Public regional hospital	City
Bocas del Toro	Hospital Regional Dr. Raúl Dávila Mena	Changuinola
Coclé	Hospital Regional Dr. Rafael Estévez	Aguadulce
Colón	Hospital Regional Dr. Manuel Amador Guerrero	Colón
Darién	Hospital San José de La Palma	La Palma
Herrera	Hospital Regional Dr. Gustavo Nelson Collado R.	Chitré
Los Santos	Hospital Regional de Azuero Anita Moreno	Los Santos
Panamá Oeste	Hospital Regional Nicolás A. Solano	La Chorrera
Veraguas	Hospital Regional Dr. Luis “Chicho” Fábrega	Santiago

Living in the interior? Pick your town with the nearest hospital in mind, and check how far a private hospital is before you sign a lease.

Hospital Costs

The cost of a hospital visit depends on whether it’s a public or private facility, the specific procedure or treatment you receive, and how much time you spend there.

At a public hospital like Hospital Santo Tomás, a consultation with a specialist costs US$5 and hospitalization runs US$100 per day.

Specialists at private hospitals charge about US$50 to US$130 per appointment, and an emergency room visit costs US$25 to US$50 per hour (not including treatment). A stay at a private hospital can be US$1,000 a day.

Private hospitals, while more expensive than public ones, can be as much as 50% to 75% less expensive than facilities in the United States. For a broader look at what life costs in the country, see our cost of living in Panama guide.

Waiting Times

Waiting times differ significantly between public and private hospitals.

Public hospitals receive more patients and thus have longer wait times. The exact wait time will depend on the time of day, as lines get longer later in the day, but it can be anywhere from less than an hour to a few hours. If you have a serious emergency, you’ll be categorized as a high-priority patient and they’ll get you in faster.

Wait times for procedures like surgeries are generally a few weeks.

On the other hand, waiting times at private hospitals are much shorter. If you show up in the emergency room of a private hospital you won’t be kept waiting for more than a few minutes.

Sometimes you can even be seen immediately with no wait time at all.

The same is true for booking an appointment with a private specialist. Most of the time, these doctors can work you into their schedule within a few days. Many give patients their WhatsApp numbers so they can ask questions or reach the doctor in an instant.

Emergency Numbers and Hospital Phone Lines in Panama

Call 911 for an ambulance, the fire service or the police. GOV.UK also lists 103 for ambulance and fire and 104 for police.

If you’re in Panama City and can get to a hospital yourself, you can also call a private hospital’s emergency line directly. These are the numbers the U.S. Embassy lists. Dial +507 first if you’re calling from a foreign SIM.

Hospital	Emergency or main line	Area
Pacífica Salud (Hospital Punta Pacífica)	204-8184 or 204-8185	Punta Pacífica
The Panama Clinic	(+507) 310-1121	Pacific Center, Punta Pacífica
Hospiten Paitilla	265-8888	Balboa Avenue, Marbella
Clínica Hospital San Fernando	305-6305 (dial 2 for English on 305-6300)	Vía España
Hospital Nacional	207-8100 (main line, emergency room open 24 hours)	Cuba Avenue

Save one number now. Put your nearest hospital’s emergency line in your phone the week you arrive. In a real emergency you won’t want to be searching for it.

Need a dentist instead of a doctor? Our guide to dental care in Panama covers that side.

How to Visit a Hospital in Panama

This step-by-step guide tells you everything you need to know for your first visit to a Panamanian hospital. If you don’t want to visit a hospital, another option is to buy medications from a pharmacy. 

Searching for a Hospital

If you have a health condition or anticipate needing regular medical care, you’d do well to base yourself near cities like Panama City, Santiago, Chitré, or David, because these urban centers are home to large hospitals where you can receive good medical care. The good news is that most expats live within an hour or two of those places. See our guide to renting an apartment in Panama City if you’re planning to settle in the capital.

It can be difficult to find reliable healthcare in rural Panama.

Most small towns only have one or two government-run clinics that are able to handle only the most basic of procedures, like stitching a finger. For any major health concern, you’ll be referred to a larger hospital.

You can search for public hospitals on the Ministry of Health’s website at minsa.gob.pa, which offers a facility locator with opening hours and available services.

To find a private hospital, you can do a Google search for private hospitals in the city or town you’d like to live in.

Private hospitals have in-depth websites that list the services and departments they offer, the insurance companies they partner with, and the specialists who work in the facility.

Making an Appointment

Panamanian hospitals accept walk-ins and booking an appointment usually isn’t required.

Public hospitals don’t schedule visits in advance; appointments are given in-person. If you want to see a general doctor or specialist at a public hospital, you should arrive as early as possible, ideally when the facility opens.

When you register at the external consultation (consulta externa) window, you will be registered for an appointment later in the day.

Then you’ll need to stay in the waiting room until your name is called.

In non-emergency situations, scheduling an appointment ahead of time at a private hospital is a smart move. This enables you to select your preferred doctor and skip the wait.

Simply visit the hospital’s website to access the directory and book an appointment online with the specialist of your choosing.

Alternatively, if you have any questions before making an appointment, you can reach out to the doctor via phone or WhatsApp – their contact details are available in the directory.

Registering as a Patient

When you go to a Panamanian hospital – public or private – you will need to check in at the registration desk first. The receptionist will ask to see your passport, so it’s essential that you take it with you anytime you go to a medical facility.

If it’s a private hospital, the receptionist will ask if you have private health insurance. If you do, you’ll either show the physical card or send the digital version by email.

Once you’ve finished registering, you’ll be asked to sit in the waiting room until your name is called.

Seeing a Doctor or Specialist

When it’s time for you to be seen, a nurse will come to collect you. They will take your vital signs, confirm your personal information, and ask about your symptoms.

Usually, in Panama, you’ll be seen first by a general practitioner who will diagnose your symptoms and send you to the relevant department if needed.

The GP will also ask what medications you’re taking, if you have allergies, and your prior medical history.  

If you have a common health problem like an ear infection, upset stomach, or sore throat, the GP will likely be equipped to treat you themselves. They’ll examine you, run diagnostic tests, and recommend medication.

In the case of a more complex condition or accident, the GP will send you to a specialist.

Hospitalization

Private hospitals provide individual rooms for patients who need to stay overnight.

Hospitalization in one of these facilities is a very similar experience to hospitalization in the United States and Canada. You can count on air conditioning, warm water, and bed linens.

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Public hospitals don’t have private rooms. If you need to spend the night in a government hospital, you’ll likely share a room with a few other patients. Air conditioning and bed linens are sometimes available.

Some private insurance plans offer coverage for overnight hospital stays while others do not. Hospitalization coverage is an important factor to evaluate when considering health insurance policies.

Paying Bills

Before you can leave a Panamanian hospital, you have to pay your medical bill in full. Hospitals accept cash, credit and debit cards, and Yappy (an instant transfer app from Banco General).

Even with insurance, a small ER bill may land on you. Pacífica Salud says it can ask you to pay an emergency bill under US$500 yourself if you aren’t admitted, unless your international insurer is one of the starred companies on its list. (Verified November 2026.)

Uninsured and being admitted? Hospiten Paitilla asks for a deposit at admission, and the amount depends on the procedure. Insured patients pay their co-pay or deductible at admission instead.

Air Ambulance and Medical Evacuation From Panama

Panama City’s private hospitals handle most things. For something rare or very serious, some expats fly home for treatment, so it pays to know how that works before you need it.

The U.S. Embassy lists four air ambulance companies: AirCare1, AMR/REACH Air Ambulance, Express Air Medical Transport and Trinity Air Ambulance. The embassy says its lists are not complete and are not an endorsement, so treat them as a starting point.

Ask your insurer these questions before you buy a plan:

• Is evacuation covered? Some plans include it and some sell it as an add-on.
• Does it need pre-approval? Find out whether the insurer must agree to the flight first.
• Which provider does it use? Some insurers only pay their own partner.

Just arrived? Our guide to your first 90 days in Panama has the checklist.

Paying With Health Insurance

Both public and private health insurance systems exist in Panama.

Employees of Panamanian companies are automatically enrolled in Social Security. This program offers workers health insurance that is accepted at public hospitals within the Social Security network. For more on how the system works, see our guide to social security in Panama.

Social Security health insurance provides 100% coverage for consultations, emergencies, hospitalization, preventative medicine, exams, surgeries, and any other service offered by each hospital.

Panamanian private health insurance plans cost US$50 to US$400 per month, depending on your age and plan. Please read our health insurance in Panama article to find out more. Over 50? See our guide to health insurance in Panama over 50.

Before heading to a private hospital, check its affiliated insurance providers to ensure yours is on the list. If your insurance company is a partner and your treatment is covered, you’ll simply fill out some paperwork and won’t have to pay anything.

If your insurance company isn’t affiliated, you’ll have to pay out-of-pocket. However, some providers issue refunds for out-of-network care, so keep your receipts.

Don’t count on direct billing either. Expats in the Panama forums this autumn said even the big Panama City hospitals often ask them to pay first and claim the money back from the insurer.

Local private health insurance plans operate on either a deductible or co-pay system (or a combination of the two).

For instance, my plan with Pan-American Life costs US$65 a month with no deductible.

This means I pay a small co-pay for each medical visit. Recently, I had an allergic reaction and went to the private Hospital Brisas in Panama City. I spent a couple of hours in the emergency room and received a cocktail of anti-anaphylactic medications.

My total payment for the appointment? US$25. Without health insurance, I would have paid over US$300.

And my experience? Highly recommended. I was seen immediately by a doctor, the hospital staff was friendly and kind, and I was provided with a comfortable bed surrounded by a curtain in an air-conditioned emergency room. I was discharged as soon as I felt better – no unnecessary waiting.

Do I Need to Speak Spanish?

At private hospitals, you can usually count on finding English-speaking doctors and nurses.

However, the likelihood of this at public hospitals is lower. It’s always wise to be prepared for any situation, so I’m leaving you with a list of Spanish words and phrases that will be helpful for navigating Panamanian hospitals.

Parts of the Body = Las Partes Del Cuerpo

Symptoms = Los Síntomas

Illnesses = Las Enfermedades

Other Medical Terms

Helpful Phrases

Frequently Asked Questions

Can foreigners use public hospitals in Panama?

Yes. Public hospitals run by MINSA and the Caja de Seguro Social see walk-in patients, and some expats pay out of pocket for the low prices. Expect longer waits and less English than at a private hospital.

Which Panama hospital is best for English speakers?

Start with the private hospitals in Panama City. The U.S. Embassy says they will normally provide service in English. Hospital San Fernando even runs an English phone line (dial 2 on 305-6300) and an English website.

Do Panama hospitals accept foreign health insurance?

Yes, most big private hospitals in Panama accept international health insurance, but only from insurers on their own list. Pacífica Salud, The Panama Clinic, Hospiten Paitilla, Centro Médico Mae Lewis and Hospital Chiriquí all publish insurer lists online. Check yours before you go, and keep your receipts in case you have to claim a refund. (Verified November 2026.)

Does Medicare cover me in Panama?

Almost never. Medicare.gov says Medicare usually doesn’t cover health care outside the U.S., with rare exceptions for inpatient hospital, doctor and ambulance services. Plan on private insurance or paying out of pocket. (Verified October 2026.)

Medicare Advantage is a different story. Centro Médico Mae Lewis lists it on its insurer page, so ask your plan whether it pays for care abroad before you travel.

Is there a 24-hour emergency room in David?

Yes. Centro Médico Mae Lewis in David lists 24-hour emergency care, a 24-hour laboratory and a 24-hour pharmacy on its website. Its main line is (+507) 775-4616.

Which hospitals in Panama are JCI accredited?

Pacífica Salud says both of its hospitals, Hospital Punta Pacífica and Pacífica Salud Costa del Este, are accredited by Joint Commission International. The Panama Clinic uses TEMOS accreditation instead. (Verified November 2026.)

Is there a hospital in Boquete?

No. Boquete has a public health centre and a polyclinic for everyday care. For emergencies and hospital stays, residents go to David, where Centro Médico Mae Lewis and Hospital Chiriquí both run 24-hour ERs.