Panama is promoting itself as a mecca for medical tourism. Boquete Panama may be a great place to recuperate but for doctors you need to consider Panama City. The term medical tourism implies elective surgery, low prices and quality services. I do not like the term, I do however think Panama has excellent medical resources.
This last trip to Panama City was tied to finding medical advice for my daughter. Without sounding overly critical of insurance based medical care in the USA, it is (explicative deleted) awful. I pay a large monthly insurance fee to cover myself and my immediate family, including my youngest daughter a university student. The fee covers care anyplace in the world, including the US. The problem is that my daughter waited for months for cursory care, from disinterested doctors with fifteen minutes to spare in the US. I decided that she should come to Panama and be a medical tourist for two months.
On June 1st in five hours we achieved results that were unattainable in the US in a year. She had a visit with an ear, eye, nose and throat specialist. Jacobo Cohen, graduated from the University of Panama, did his residency in Florida had been a chief resident in a Florida hospital.
She was sent in for a cranial CAT scan at Punta Pacifica, a hospital managed by John Hopkins, and had a followup appointment all before noon. Total cost $195, CAT scan and over an hour of professional time. Doctor Cohen took the time to understand her problems. He explained the lab results and dismissed the need for surgery, something suggested up north. He looked at my daughter as a holistic organism, not as an isolated series of biological systems.
Dr Cohen believes that her issues are a combination of things, some related to breathing some related to medicines prescribed by a doctor in Arizona. That doctor who gladly billed me for 15 minutes of telephone time quarterly, has not seen my daughter for two years.
Dr Cohen referred us to another specialist, called him and explained the possible issue with medicines. After lunch we saw him. Another US trained doctor, another hour of time and a plan to modify medications over the next two months,
I will not demean this experience with the term medical tourism, What we experienced was the practice of medicine. In my lifetime medicine in the United States has change from the family doctor, empathy and house calls to corporate pseudo medicine managed by insurance company actuarial tables. In Panama you can still find doctors, well trained and multilingual. In addition to being competent they will take the time to provide medical services as they should be provided, they even provide their cell phone numbers.
Just don’t forget the fact you have no recourse if a doctor makes a mistake
Dear Lee,
Do you have a link or a recommendation for finding decent medical/hospital insurance and costs in Panama? Glad your daughter got such a good check-up, medical care seems so much better in Panama.
Thanks,
Clyde
here the “practice of Medicine” is good when you can pay for it in a private hospital or clinic, you should try in the public hospitals where the same doctors forget all about been polite and take care of the patients.
I read with some interest your article on Medical tourism in Panama, and am delighted to hear you had good results. We are moving down in a couple of weeks, and do plan to take advantage of the excellent medical care that can be obtained in Panama.
What did distress me was to read some of the negative comments such as, ” You have no Recourse if something goes wrong” If you had medical care in the States, and something goes wrong, the only re-course you have is a mal practice suit, which will take years to resolve, and that won’t correct the “Something that went wrong” If you win the suit, it won’t get your health back, and thats a bitter pill to swallow
Go with what feels right with you, and if you are satisfied with the treatment you are getting for your Daughter, then its worth every penny you spent for the treatment.
Regards, Don Kirby
Elective/Cosmetic surgery is not always a happy journey as witnessed here: http://www.panama-guide.com/article.php?story=20090519110004914&query=alegria
Before opting in for elective surgery, due diligence is paramount.
How much did Patrice Lachon Clark really know about Dr. Paúl C. Alegrí P. of Unida de Estetica Medica in David, Panama?
Are there “legitimate”checks and balances or first person patient review websites that authenticate the qualifications and the history of so called surgeons? Not to my knowledge.
I’ve heard numerous reports that this fella has a long history of malpractice and erroneous post op diagnoses.
I’m interested in hearing from any of you who have been victimized by this small town, high dollar nip and tuck wanna be.
And for those of you who want to size up this fella, contact me – I happen to know one of his “victims” and have graphic photos to substantiate his cosmetic prowess.
Please post your accounts on this board.
I cannot make any comment on this tragic death, I do not know anything about it, the patient, the procedure used or the doctor, but be aware liposuction does have it’s risks.
“The tumescent liposuction method, when performed as described, has not resulted in reported deaths, but the traditional liposuction method has a death rate of approximately one in 5000. Other complications may include pulmonary embolus (with the traditional method), allergy to one of the medications used, fluid collection after surgery called a seroma or a hematoma, a puncture of either the lung or the abdominal cavity, and an overdose of the medication used to numb the area (lidocaine). Less serious complications include worsening of cellulite in the area treated; dimpling or lumpiness in the area treated; infections; and reactions to the tape, bandages, or salves used in the recovery period.”
reference
http://www.emedicinehealth.com/liposuction/page6_em.htm#risks
Pardon my typo – should read:
Dr. Paúl C. Alegría P. of Unidad de Estetica Medica
How can you find out cost estimates for a specific surgery? Do you have to make an in person visit to the hospital? I was googling this very doctor when I came across your article on Dr. Cohen. Do you have further to say about him? Thanks.
My daughter came to Panama expecting to have sinus surgery. Dr Cohen examined her and decided it was not necessary. He diagnosed sinusitis, something no doctor in the US seemed to see. One week on antibiotics and nasal spray and she can now breath and smell again for the first time in years.
This does not speak to his surgical skills but it certainly is testimony to his skills as a healer.
For costs you should contact his office.
does anyone have any information on the meds available for rhumatoid arthritic patients and specifically the cost of those med in panama?
I think the best way is to contact the medical centers and ask them directly, if they don’t give a descent answer – than probably they are not relevant to Americans…
To find out about cost estimates, and for a lot of really useful information, you can look here:
http://www.health-tourism.com/panama-medical-tourism/
I really believe that my country has really great medical services comparable and sometimes better than the one I have had here in the US. I did have a nose operation that was more than an a plastic surgery because I did have an accident when I was a child and broke my nose bone really bad. Have to wait until I was 15 and Dr. Jacobo Cohen is one of the rhino-plastic surgeon in my country. I have total confident in his service, 15 years later and I have no real problem after that. I am actually planning to take a trip back to my country just to get check again by him, because honestly I don’t really trust anybody here in the US with that, and second the price here is outrageously insane.
Not sure how the price has change now, but I know it didn’t cost more that 5000 hospital services and operation and everything. Also I have private insurance trough my parents so they cover half of the cost, I think. Now I know the difference on cost that will be a joke to say that that is what you are going to spend here in the US and also my operation was more than just a plastic surgery.
And to panameño that says that panama public hospital are bad.. dude.. just wait to come here, and I swear you will be begin to be treated for less than 5 dollar by any rude doctor from that public hospital of ours.. I have been there and at least if I wake up early and get my ticket I have a chance to see one, over here, I pay as much or more than a private insurance in Panama, and to get a doctor even when I am feeling bad is just a matter of begging. From the receptionist to the doctor they all believe that you are the one that should be thankful that you are there. My experience totally change when I joined Kaiser, yes is an HMO, but what is the different from Aetna POS, I know, in the second one I pretend to have control over my choices and have to call more than 20 doctors before I find one that can see my in less than a week. Trough Kaiser HMO I just send and email and ask to see my doctor and that’s it I can see him or her tomorrow if I feel bad. If all I need is a lab test, In Kaiser I just have to walk into the Lab place that happens to be in the same building as the doctors that happens to be in the same building as the Pharmacy. Trough Aetna POS fabulous choice (sarcasm) I have to find where to find a lab near them, with the consequence of having them misspelling my name and charging me anwyay, after that look around where to find a Pharmacy.. no.. you got to be an idiot first to believe that is how it works.. I know I was one for two years with Aetna POS until I was able to get Kaiser.
Here is a website that might help answear your questions regarding medical procedures in panama.
This site is owend and operated by doctors,not some middle man or broker.most if them are even us board certified I belive. http://www.panamamedicalsolutions.com I hope this answeares some of your questions