# Panama

> Citation bundle for Panama on The Treatment Registry.
> URL: https://thetreatmentregistry.com/countries/panama
> Bundle URL: https://thetreatmentregistry.com/api/citations/countries/panama

- ISO code: PA
- Currency: Balboa / US Dollar
- Language: Spanish
- Timezone: EST (UTC-5)

## Overview

Panama, officially the Republic of Panama, is a country located at the southern end of Central America in North America, bordering South America. It is bordered by Costa Rica to the west, Colombia to the southeast, the Caribbean Sea to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the south. Its capital and largest city is Panama City, whose metropolitan area is home to nearly half of the country's over 4 million inhabitants.

*Reference text adapted from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0.*

## Healthcare system

Health care in Panama is provided through the government and private sector businesses. The public sector is funded through the Ministry of Health (MINSA), and the Social Security Fund (CSS), which operate separate facilities. The CSS is both a healthcare provider and a pension fund administrator. It is funded by contributions from employers and employees. About 3.47 million people of the population of roughly 3.9 million were covered by its provisions in 2013, this included both the contributors and their dependents. MINSA provides low-cost facilities for those not covered. In 2014 it operated 830 health facilities.

*Reference text adapted from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0.*

## Practical info

Panama's currency is the balboa, used alongside the US dollar. Public healthcare is funded through the Ministry of Health (MINSA) and the Social Security Fund (CSS), which operate separate facilities, and private sector providers also deliver care; MINSA operates low-cost facilities for people not covered by the CSS. Medical care is delivered in Spanish, with English also used in medical settings. Emergency numbers are separate: 104 for police, 911 for medical emergencies and ambulance, and 103 for fire. MINSA publishes a statement of patient rights and duties on its website. The UK Foreign Office advises that no travel can be guaranteed safe and recommends travel insurance covering your full itinerary, planned activities and expenses in an emergency; check the current entry requirements for your nationality before booking treatment.

## Emergency numbers

- **Police:** 104
- **Medical / Ambulance:** 911
- **Fire:** 103

## Medical malpractice framework

Reference page scaffold; editorial sourcing pending.

- Patient rights reference: https://www.minsa.gob.pa/contenido/derechos-y-deberes-del-paciente

## FAQs

### Who regulates healthcare in Panama?

The regulator recorded for Panama is the Ministerio de Salud de Panamá (MINSA). Healthcare is provided through the government and private sector: the public sector is funded through MINSA and the Social Security Fund (CSS), which operate separate facilities, and MINSA provides low-cost facilities for people not covered by the CSS. MINSA also publishes a statement of patient rights and duties on its website.

### What are the emergency numbers in Panama?

Panama uses separate emergency numbers rather than a single line: dial 104 for police, 911 for medical emergencies and ambulance services, and 103 for the fire service. Save these numbers and the contact details of your treating facility before you travel, and confirm with the facility how emergencies during or after treatment are handled.

### What currency is used in Panama?

Panama's currency is the balboa (PAB), used alongside the US dollar. The sources for this entry do not describe hospital payment or billing practices for foreign patients, so confirm accepted payment methods, deposit requirements and billing arrangements directly with the treating facility before travelling.

### What language will my care be in?

The registry records Spanish as Panama's language, with Spanish and English used in medical settings. If you need consultations, consent forms or medical records in a particular language, confirm availability directly with the treating facility before booking, as the sources for this entry do not state which languages individual hospitals or clinics offer.

### Do I need travel insurance for treatment in Panama?

The UK Foreign Office advises that no travel can be guaranteed safe and recommends appropriate travel insurance covering your itinerary, planned activities and expenses in an emergency. For planned treatment, ask your insurer how elective medical care abroad affects your cover, and note that public healthcare in Panama is organised around MINSA and the Social Security Fund, whose provisions cover contributors and their dependents.

## Sources

- [CIA World Factbook — Panama](https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/panama/) — US Central Intelligence Agency (accessed 2026-07-05)