When you move to Panama you need to find doctors and dentists and this is relatively easy to do if you are in one of the bigger cities as there are numerous clinics. No matter which neighbourhood you are living in you will not be too far away from a clinic. In urban areas the larger hospitals also serve as clinics. The Clinica Hospital San Fernando has a number of facilities that are provided for those who need drop in medical services such as eye care and primary care facilities as well as emergency dental clinics.

As most doctors have their offices within a hospital you simply phone their office to make an appointment, there is no registration procedure as such. It is more than likely at your first appointment your doctor will want all the details of your medical history so your first appointment may take longer than you expect.

All clinics have different opening times but most will be able to give you an appointment the same day, so there are few waiting lists.

The condition at most doctor’s and dentist’s clinics are on a par with those you would find in the US or the UK and you can be sure that you are being treated by a well qualified professional. Most dentists train in the US, France, Panama or Brazil and the University of Panama is considered to have one of the most comprehensive dental training programmes in the region. The same applies to doctors. The university is renowned for filtering out those students who are not naturally capable of being a good medical professional.

Many of the doctors and dentists are fluent or at least have conversational English. It is advisable if you are having dental treatment in Panama that you check with the dentist where they purchase their materials. You will pay more if you have a dentist that uses US-made materials rather than those that are made locally.

Paying will depend upon the clinic. Most hospitals and clinics will take credit cards but some smaller clinics will expect you to pay in cash if your medical insurance does not cover the cost. It is a good idea to check in advance to find out what your payment options are.

Panama also has a number of holistic therapists if you prefer alternative medicine. These are usually listed in the local directory and therapies such as homeopathy, acupuncture and herbalism are common. If you are looking for a chiropractor there are a limited number and in order to have a licence to practice this therapy you must be a Panamanian citizen, but most are trained in the US.