ITIC Americas 2024 | Insights into the Panamanian healthcare system
To start ITIC Americas 2024, Dr Maria Cecilia Aponte from The Panama Clinic shares how international insurers and medical assistance companies can get the most out of the local healthcare system, ensuring quality care at a reasonable price
Dr Maria Cecilia Aponte, InternationalBusiness Director at The Panama Clinic, introduced her talk by saying Panamais the ultimate destination for multinational companies to conduct their global and regional operations, and said that there are over 180 multinational companies now in the country.
She explained that healthcare in Panama is provided through a public and private care system. The public area is financed through the Ministry of Health (MINSA) and the Social Security Fund (Caja de Seguro Social, CSS), which operate as separate facilities.
Dr Aponte then spoke about the pros of the healthcare system:
- The public healthcare system provides access to affordable care for nearly all of its 4.4 million residents – including visitors
- Many doctors in the country have studied in the US or Europe and often speak English
- Doctors working in the private system are required by law also to keep some hours for the public system
- Residents paying into the CSS through employee and employer contributions are completely covered
- For those able to pay more, excellent private hospitals are available
- More affordable than the US.
… and the cons:
- While the public system offers good physician care, its overall quality is still ranked well below most of Europe and the US
- Visitors will find MINSA healthcare facilities operating out of older buildings with limited beds/dated equipment
- Expats report long wait times and there is a lack of basics like bedding and toilet paper
- Public hospitals can be short-staffed
- Access to care is not equal across Panama’s terrain
- Private institutions are fewer and further between in rural areas
- Many of the internationally educated and private doctors prefer to live/practise near city amenities
- Language barriers in some public facilities.
Dr Aponte went on to talk about medical insurance options for foreigners and explained that CSS is available to foreigners; MINSA’s public clinics are available to all; and some local health insurance is available in the form of local hospital coverage or HMOs, but that the best option for expats is international health insurance.
To conclude, Dr Aponte said that Panama is a country of opportunities where there are important challenges in the health system that need to be taken seriously. She said that expats or international patients must take in consideration important aspects such as where to live and insurance needs. She said, as in many countries, language barriers can be an issue, and that costs are high – so be prepared!