Panama - Paving the Way Toward Solid Infrastructure for Medical Tourism

DENVER - April 9, 2013 - PRLog -- Pramod Goel, CEO of PlacidWay, a Colorado-based medical tourism provider and resource for international medical travel, recently visited Panama City, Panama, and spoke at the first SALUD Panama medical tourism conference.  The first international conference on medical tourism and global health issues hosted by Panama had over 100 experts in the health and medical tourism field.

Held on March 14, 2013 in Panama City, Director General of SALUD Panama, Luis Santamaría hosted the conference, the first of its kind promoting medical tourism in Panama. Santamaria believes that the event provided positive international exposure for Panama's growing medical tourism industry as well as for Panama-based doctors and surgeons in the international medical travel market.

In addition to founding one of the largest and fastest growing medical tourism company and resources in the United States, Goel recently authored, "Evolution of Medical Tourism - from Cottage Industry to Corporate World" offering his expertise to international medical providers around the world. As a speaker at the event, Goel believes that Latin American countries, including Panama, have some of the greatest potential to grow in the medical tourism industry.  The conference was designed and organized to provide international speakers with a wealth of experience in their native markets, as well as s to share resources and statistics regarding business structure foundation, growth and development. The conference also promoted the importance of multidisciplinary business models, and risk preparedness for all types of enterprises, large or small, while focusing on educating its attendees regarding the importance of creating a workable and patient-centered business model, the vital importance of collaboration between medical providers, suppliers, hospitals, and healthcare facilities, as well as private sector experience in business and government models when it comes to health care and wellness.

One of the overall goals of the medical tourism conference was to provide extensive education and networking access with industry sponsors, as well as access to experienced guests and other attendees.

Touring Panama Medical Centers

Mr. Luis Santamaria, Director General of SALUDPanama, was the perfect host for the four-day conference. Goel looked forward to and enjoyed visiting Panama's top hospitals, including Hospital Punta Pacifica, San Fernando Hospital, Paitilla Medical Center, and National Hospital.

Goel, who has traveled from India, to South Korea, to Turkey and multiple locations throughout Latin America, was impressed with the quality, technology, patient care, and cleanliness of Panama's top hospitals.

Networking

Day three of the conference emphasized speakers from around the world in the medical tourism industry, many of whom  traveled from the United States, Colombia, Costa Rica and other locations throughout Panama to speak at the conference. Each of the speakers promoted interaction among the guests, providing necessary industry knowledge, best practices, and lessons learned from other medical tourism deployment while seeking excellent networking opportunities with over 150 doctors, dentists, clinic owners, hospitals, and other healthcare facilities, including marketing managers of hospitality and hospital industries. Such networking offered visitors and guests an opportunity to brand their services in the right markets.  Expertise of guests ranged from CEOs to medical travel companies, book authors, including Pramod Goel, and analyst and author Jill Hodges.  

Medical Landscape in Panama

The medical landscape in Panama is impressive, with extremely qualified doctors, a majority of them American educated, practicing in high-end medical centers utilizing the latest in state-of-the-art medical technology from the United States.  The Joint Commission International accredits two of the four most popular hospitals in Panama, and each of the four hospitals profiled above have a solid and patient-centered infrastructure and culture.

Panama-based medical tourism program is young and on its path to grow given the right infrastructure and support is available. Panama is among the top supporters of research and education in the medical industry, and since its growth in popularity nearly a decade ago, Panama has focused its communications through Internet, television, and print media. The conference itself focused on over one hundred of the most well versed and well-known Panamanian experts and specialists including board members of regional hospitals, public and private health systems representatives, and executives in business marketing, tourism, and hospitality industries.

Panama as a Travel Destination

Panama is one of the most visited Latin American countries, attracting tourists with its semi-tropical environment, climate and reputation in providing some of the best in not only medical facilities, but also indoor and outdoor attractions for travelers far and wide. Panama City, Panama's capital, utilizes both the United States dollar and the Spanish Balboa for currency, and with its typical 84° weather, offers year-round attraction. Whether visiting the Pacific or the Caribbean side of the country, outdoor adventures await visitors, including windsurfing, sailing, deep-sea fishing, diving, sail gliding, and more. Horseback riding, hiking, and jungle tours provide excitement for all ages, while the high-tech nightlife environment of Panama City attracts young and old alike after a day of playing or sunbathing.

Conclusion
Climate friendly, people friendly and diverse in geography, Panama offers one of the ultimate travel destinations for medical travelers, whether seeking plastic surgery, dental procedures, fertility treatment, cardiac care, cancer treatments, or bariatric procedures. Panama is on the cusp of creating and developing one of the most solid infrastructures in medical tourism programs, and government support for such programs has steadily increased in recent years. The government encourages such facilities to develop and grow, providing tax incentives and trade zones that are favorable to businesses that support medical tourism, including restaurants, hotels, and travel services and agencies.

Panama’s vibrant economy, rapid growth, and excellent education system provide Panama City with the ability to promote and encourage innovation. Creation of City of Knowledge indicates investment and supports to innovative environment as well as pursuit of knowledge to gain competitive advantage. Panama’s ability to develop solid infrastructure and master plans for sustainable medical tourism programs will be the key to growth of the industry and competitive offering in Latin America.

For press inquiries about PlacidWay or to arrange an interview with Pramod Goel, call +1.303.317.3607, or email info@placidway.com.