Health and Safety in Panama

Is Panama safe?
Are there any health concerns?
In case of an emergency, what kind of healthcare is available?

Is Panama safe?
Yes, Panama is one of the safest countries in Central or South America. Panamanians want you to be happy so you will return to their tourist-friendly country. Special tourist police are stationed around the city to answer questions or guide you should you get lost. And anyone who commits a crime against a tourist is severely punished…so it rarely happens.

Are there any health concerns?
No shots are necessary for travel in Panama. Yellow fever and malaria should not be a concern unless you’re traveling for several days into remote and uninhabited parts of the jungles. There are no health concerns unique to Panama.

In case of an emergency, what kind of healthcare is available?
Panama offers good quality medical care and modern hospitals in the metropolitan areas. The more isolated your location, the farther you are from first-rate medical care. In the city of David, in the Chiriquí Province in the western region of Panama, there is a great medical center with modern facilities. Many Panamanian doctors are U.S.- trained, and the standards at the top hospitals compare favorably with those in the United States, Canada and Europe.