In Panama companies dedicated to the activity are complaining about the absence of a state policy or strategy to help promote the country as a destination for medical tourism at the international level.

Although Panama has all the necessary characteristics to make it a relevant market for medical tourism, a specific policy to promote the activity led by the Tourism Authority could encourage much more development of the activity in the country. “…‘The only disadvantage Panama has as a destination for medical tourism is that this sector has not been recognized by the state as a tourist product or a real feature of its organizational infrastructure,’ said Luis Santamaría, general director of Panasalud S.A., to Prensa.com.”

See also: “The potential of medical tourism in Nicaragua”

“… An index developed by Fetscherin & Stephano in 2016 placed Panama in 20th place among the top 30 medical tourism destinations globally. Ahead of it in the region were Costa Rica (6), Brazil (16), Jamaica (17) and Colombia (19). Behind them were the Dominican Republic (22) and Mexico (28). “

Despite the absence of a government policy, the outlook for the sector is optimistic. “… Panasalud, a Panamanian company   which promotes the local health sector globally, projects 7.5% growth in the industry’s income through a combination of importing foreign cases and retention of local cases that are not being served elsewhere.”