Health Tourism in Panama

I have been a health tourist in Panama. For your reference and information, I thought I would explain the services that are available. My specifics are at the end.

Panama’s reputation as the most health conscious country in Latin America dates back to the construction of the Panama Canal. As part of the US construction team, US doctors helped to eradicate malaria, yellow fever and typhoid, and they inspired physicians to train in the US. While US control of the canal ended in 1999, US presence and its legacy continues. The US dollar is the currency of the country, and many Americans have chosen to retire here. World class private hospitals have been established here and many maintain relationships with renowned hospitals in the US.

Along with Thailand, India, Philippines and other countries Panama is definitely an option for Health tourists – people who want to purchase health services in a country other than their own. There are many reasons for this: cost, immediate access, or options that are not endorsed at home.

Panama is open for the business of health care! Available services include cosmetic surgery, orthopedic surgery, fertility treatment, dental care, heart surgery, and cancer treatment. Follow the link below for more information:

http://www.health-tourism.com/

Of course, one of the more intriguing, and very visible, options is cosmetic surgery. For a full list of all of the available cosmetic surgery options, have a look at this site:

http://www.health-tourism.com/cosmetic-surgery/panama/

While we have seen lots of cosmetic surgery in Thailand. There are some things that are unique or at least more popular (in the extreme) here such as butt augmentation. (You have to see the results to believe it!) As defined on the website, “Buttock augmentation, also referred to as Gluteoplasty or a Buttock/Butt lift, is a surgical procedure to remove unwanted fat or loose skin from the buttocks and reshape the buttocks. Buttock augmentation surgery can also involve implants and liposuction. The surgeon makes incisions in places which can be hidden by the skin’s natural creases, removes excess fat, trims unwanted skin and pulls the skin back together. Buttock augmentation is popular with women and men who have lost a great deal of weight and consequently volume in the buttocks, as well as those who want to improve the shape of their buttocks.”

Karen as a health tourist in Panama
Given the services available, my involvement has been very mundane. No, I won’t look any different than when I left – no augmentations for me! Instead, I have been sick here with a lung/bronchial infection. While I always bring antibiotics with me, I have also had the good fortune to connect with a wonderful Panamanian doctor with perfect English. I have had first rate service and care, and taken the time to rest and recover here. As a result, we have stayed in Panama City much longer than we would have under other circumstances.

Dra. Paola, my Panamanian doctor

Despite the delay, we have enjoyed our stay. We had a wonderful apartment hotel with a separate bedroom, kind sized bed, and kitchen. Lance had lots to keep him occupied while I was sleeping: casino next door, Bongo’s bar (he has more details about this), massage, NFL playoffs on TV, safe area to walk, and grocery stores with great roasted chicken nearby. So good to know he was fed and entertained while I slept and visited my doctor.

Panama Canal

The canal is an engineering marvel. Since it opened in 1914, it has had and continues to have a significant impact on the economy and politics of Panama. It is 80km long and more than 14,000 ships pass through the canal each year. New locks are under construction, and are planned to open in 2014, the 100^th anniversary of the canal. The new locks will be bigger, and accommodate some of the newer larger vessels that travel the oceans today.

We were fortunate to see a large container ship pass through: a much more impressive sight than watching the small pleasure crafts and tug boats pass through.

Cargo ship pushed toward lock entrace via tugboats.

Tugboats replaced with "mules" that run along rail track and keep the ship centred within the lock.

Locks close, and the water level drops.

When water level has dropped, gates open and the ship passes into the second of the three chambers.



Smaller boats don't need the help of the "mules" and are much less dramatic to watch.



Water level rises and the gates open.

Panama City

While the weather was not perfect in Panama City, it was a definite improvement, cloudy, hot and humid. The Veneto was great hotel with an outdoor pool, workout centre, wonderful breakfast, great restaurants within walking distance, all the gambling Lance could want, and NFL playoffs on TV.

To get a sense of the city, we hired a driver and took a tour of the city. Rafael's English is perfect, his rates are reasonable and no doubt he will be our driver again. Some pictures from the city tour:

Casco Viejo, Panama City

Panama City Sky Line (Amy from Washington DC)

Our taxi driver, Rafael

Planes, Trains and Automobiles – Our version

On to Panama ... Leaving Cahuita at noon on Dec 26, we arrived in Panama City 27hr later. Unlike the movie, Planes Trains and Automobiles, we didn't travel by train, but we did travel by mini van, walking, taxi, boat, and airplane. Here are the highlights: door-to-door transit service from Cahuita to Bocas del Toro included a driver to the Costa Rica/Panamian border, then a Panamian driver to help us negotiate the exit from Costa Rica, entrance into Panama, walk across the rickety bridge to enter Panama, taxi to Almirante, and boat to Bocas del Toro.

Single lane bridge connecting Costa Rica and Panama. Watch your step!

Smaller water taxi. Transit to other islands in the archipelago.

After a good sleep in Bocas, we decided to move on to Panama City for New Years. If the weather had been better, I’m sure Boca would have been beautiful; however, more rain was promised and the hotels were so busy that we could only find single nights in different hotels. Needing to settle, we checked hotels and flights, and it was off to Panama City that afternoon – a 1 hr flight. Lance found a deal at one of the more expensive hotels in Panama City: 7 nights for the price of 5 including breakfast and on site casino! He is always ready for a “Vegas fix” so this seemed like the perfect option.

Downtown Bocas

Bocas vegetable/fruit vendor

Aeroperlas: Bocas to Panama City

Cahuita – Good News, Bad News

Given our options over the Christmas season, the Caribbean coast was a good decision, and it gave us a chance to see the Costa Rican beaches of Cahuita and Puerto Viejo. However, we would not recommend either place. The weather is unpredictable with too much rain, services are limited, beaches are mediocre and the restaurants are pricy for the quality of the food.

Everything grows, even as you watch!

While we had experienced tropical downpours before, they were usually short in duration. Here, we had heavy rain for many hours. Rain starting late evening until dawn without stopping, 40-50mm on a couple of nights! I even like rain, but this was too much for me and Lance was muttering "same as Victoria." Even when the rain stopped, nothing dried without the sun. If you stay too long, either you will dissolve like my Fisherman Friends inside a tin box, or start to sprout plant life!

On the good news site, we did have a wonderful cabina, access to a full kitchen, wireless everywhere on the property, interesting guests to talk to, and wild life at our doorstep: toucans, hummingbirds, rare frogs and howler monkeys. Thankfully, the owner’s dogs kept the monkeys in the trees!

Lance in the kitchen

Future guard dogs

Downtown Cahuita