Comments on: A Typical Panama Healthcare Experience http://www.chiriquichatter.net/blog/2006/08/16/a-typical-panama-healthcare-experience/ "Dream as if you'll live forever, live as if you'll die today." - James Dean Tue, 02 Dec 2008 01:51:33 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: Don Ray http://www.chiriquichatter.net/blog/2006/08/16/a-typical-panama-healthcare-experience/#comment-10117 Don Ray Mon, 21 Aug 2006 13:23:51 +0000 http://chiriquichatter.net/blog/2006/08/16/a-typical-panama-healthcare-experience/#comment-10117 First, you can’t rain on my parade, because I don’t have one. Second, I live in David and can only give my impression of the David area. I have some experience in the Boquete area, but that is getting dated. Perhaps my post should have had a disclaimer relating to the David area, but I assume anyone reading Chiriquí Chatter realizes that I live in David. You are correct, that if you live in remote areas of Panama, then your access to emergency care is limited or nonexistent. A person moving to Panama with significant healthcare problems should really consider what they are doing. In David you have reasonable emergency care. Probably not the best in the world, but people die everyday on New York, Dallas, San Francisco, London and I would imagine other places do to mistakes, lack of expediency and other causes. I doubt if you are completely guaranteed of getting the proper care anywhere all the time. The same is true in Panama. I feel certain that the order of best service for health care would be Panama City first and then David. Most other places would refer problem cases to either of those two cities. Boquete would require 30-minute ride to David and in a hard rain that drive can be a little risky. While emergency ambulance service is available in David and Panama City, I have no idea what exists in other parts of Panama. Emergency care is a lot different from general care. I would probably maintain that the general care I have had in Panama, far exceeded that that I received in the States. Doctors here have given me far more time and have shown me a lot more concern that ANY I had in the US. Luckily, I have not needed any emergency procedures. As with anything, there are risks. With healthcare there are probably more risks in Panama than there are in the US. That is assuming you can afford the US costs of healthcare. If you can’t pay for it in the US, then you won’t get it. In that case having better healthcare isn’t worth much. Most of the time I like to focus on living rather than dieing. First, you can’t rain on my parade, because I don’t have one. Second, I live in David and can only give my impression of the David area. I have some experience in the Boquete area, but that is getting dated. Perhaps my post should have had a disclaimer relating to the David area, but I assume anyone reading Chiriquí Chatter realizes that I live in David.

You are correct, that if you live in remote areas of Panama, then your access to emergency care is limited or nonexistent. A person moving to Panama with significant healthcare problems should really consider what they are doing.

In David you have reasonable emergency care. Probably not the best in the world, but people die everyday on New York, Dallas, San Francisco, London and I would imagine other places do to mistakes, lack of expediency and other causes. I doubt if you are completely guaranteed of getting the proper care anywhere all the time.

The same is true in Panama. I feel certain that the order of best service for health care would be Panama City first and then David. Most other places would refer problem cases to either of those two cities. Boquete would require 30-minute ride to David and in a hard rain that drive can be a little risky.

While emergency ambulance service is available in David and Panama City, I have no idea what exists in other parts of Panama.

Emergency care is a lot different from general care. I would probably maintain that the general care I have had in Panama, far exceeded that that I received in the States. Doctors here have given me far more time and have shown me a lot more concern that ANY I had in the US. Luckily, I have not needed any emergency procedures.

As with anything, there are risks. With healthcare there are probably more risks in Panama than there are in the US. That is assuming you can afford the US costs of healthcare. If you can’t pay for it in the US, then you won’t get it. In that case having better healthcare isn’t worth much.

Most of the time I like to focus on living rather than dieing.

]]> By: Hunter Schultz http://www.chiriquichatter.net/blog/2006/08/16/a-typical-panama-healthcare-experience/#comment-10115 Hunter Schultz Mon, 21 Aug 2006 12:50:18 +0000 http://chiriquichatter.net/blog/2006/08/16/a-typical-panama-healthcare-experience/#comment-10115 Don Ray, While not surprised by your experience with the doctor, I think it wise to put some things in context. For instance, how about emergency care where you are? How's the ambulance service? Do they have one close by and can they get to your home 24/7? For people thinking about moving here, they should realize that while Panama's health care system works in certain cases, there are very, very big holes in it outside of Panama City and David. I do not mean to rain on your parade. I just think that setting better expectations is very important. Regards, Hunter Don Ray,

While not surprised by your experience with the doctor, I think it wise to put some things in context.

For instance, how about emergency care where you are?

How’s the ambulance service? Do they have one close by and can they get to your home 24/7?

For people thinking about moving here, they should realize that while Panama’s health care system works in certain cases, there are very, very big holes in it outside of Panama City and David.

I do not mean to rain on your parade. I just think that setting better expectations is very important.

Regards,

Hunter

]]> By: Rob Alan http://www.chiriquichatter.net/blog/2006/08/16/a-typical-panama-healthcare-experience/#comment-9947 Rob Alan Thu, 17 Aug 2006 05:54:16 +0000 http://chiriquichatter.net/blog/2006/08/16/a-typical-panama-healthcare-experience/#comment-9947 Don, Thanx. I'll give her a try and say that you recommended her. Rob Don,
Thanx. I’ll give her a try and say that you recommended her.
Rob

]]> By: Don Ray http://www.chiriquichatter.net/blog/2006/08/16/a-typical-panama-healthcare-experience/#comment-9937 Don Ray Wed, 16 Aug 2006 23:57:12 +0000 http://chiriquichatter.net/blog/2006/08/16/a-typical-panama-healthcare-experience/#comment-9937 I went to Optica Lopez at Albrook. I went when I knew that Doctor Sussan would be there. She had been my eye doctor in David and I trust her to do a good job. I went to Optica Lopez at Albrook. I went when I knew that Doctor Sussan would be there. She had been my eye doctor in David and I trust her to do a good job.

]]> By: Rob Alan http://www.chiriquichatter.net/blog/2006/08/16/a-typical-panama-healthcare-experience/#comment-9936 Rob Alan Wed, 16 Aug 2006 23:53:28 +0000 http://chiriquichatter.net/blog/2006/08/16/a-typical-panama-healthcare-experience/#comment-9936 Don, My glasses have become pretty scratched and I should probably get a new prescription myself - where did you go in PC? Rob Don,
My glasses have become pretty scratched and I should probably get a new prescription myself - where did you go in PC?
Rob

]]> By: Don Ray http://www.chiriquichatter.net/blog/2006/08/16/a-typical-panama-healthcare-experience/#comment-9928 Don Ray Wed, 16 Aug 2006 19:58:03 +0000 http://chiriquichatter.net/blog/2006/08/16/a-typical-panama-healthcare-experience/#comment-9928 Someday I may have a less than favorable experience, but to this point I am very happy. When I was in Panama City last week, I got a new eye glasses prescription along with new lenses and frames. Total cost $45. Someday I may have a less than favorable experience, but to this point I am very happy.

When I was in Panama City last week, I got a new eye glasses prescription along with new lenses and frames. Total cost $45.

]]> By: Jimi http://www.chiriquichatter.net/blog/2006/08/16/a-typical-panama-healthcare-experience/#comment-9927 Jimi Wed, 16 Aug 2006 19:49:22 +0000 http://chiriquichatter.net/blog/2006/08/16/a-typical-panama-healthcare-experience/#comment-9927 Hello! That's a great account of how the healthcare system works in Panama. You mentioned it briefly, but I find it amazing that doctors will work at public institutions, and yet still offer a personal touch in their own private practice. To put it another way, the same great doctors you might have attend to you at private clinics are the same doctors you'll be attended by at public hospitals, granted the service may be a bit slower. This is great to know if you should ever need to use a public hospital. Saludos y un abrazo, Jimi Hello!
That’s a great account of how the healthcare system works in Panama. You mentioned it briefly, but I find it amazing that doctors will work at public institutions, and yet still offer a personal touch in their own private practice.

To put it another way, the same great doctors you might have attend to you at private clinics are the same doctors you’ll be attended by at public hospitals, granted the service may be a bit slower.

This is great to know if you should ever need to use a public hospital.

Saludos y un abrazo,
Jimi

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