Panama
Population (2018): 4.099 M
Income per Capita (2018): 11513.28 US
Percentage of GDP on Healthcare (2015): 7.01%
training
Type of Training: Residency Program
Length of Training: Training involves 6 years of Medical School, followed by 3 years of a Residency Program
practice
Number of family doctors: 40 as of 2006
Physician to population ratio: On average, the ratio of family physicians to patients is 159.4 per 100,000 people. The standard number of family physicians in Latin America should be one per 2000 inhabitants, however Panama is far from it.
DALY: 14,694 per 100,000 individuals (Due to all Causes).
Life Expectancy:
Females 2017: 81.3 years
Males 2017: 75.3 years
Mortality rate 2017:
2017 Males: 146 per 1,000 male adults.
2017 Females: 78 per 1,000 female adults.
Infant Immunization-HepB3: % of 1-year-old children received: 88%
College of Family Physicians (Y or N):
Yes: Panamanian Family Medicine Association.
HEALTHCARE SYSTEM
The recognition of family medicine has been a slow process. There are considerable gaps in the ways in which primary care is organized, financed and delivered.
Training:
Training in this country involves a high school education followed by 6 years of medical school and then three years of residency. There is some reform going on in order to recognize family medicine but it is slow moving.
Practice
There is a mixed healthcare system. The public system covers 81% of the population while the remained is covered by the private system. Family Physicians in this country mainly focus on prevention methods and can perform certain minor procedures that do not require a specialist.
References
1. Armijos Ruilova, Gabriela, Luis Aguilera García, and Susana Alvear Durán. 2016. “Programas de Formación En Medicina Familiar En Iberoamérica Training Programs in Family Medicine in Latin America Programas de Formação Em Medicina Da Família Na América Latina.” Medicina Familiar En Iberoamérica. Rev Bras Med Fam Comunidade 11 (1): 47–60. https://doi.org/10.5712/rbmfc11(1)1278.
2. “Current Health Expenditure (% of GDP) | Data.” n.d. Accessed December 16, 2018. https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SH.XPD.CHEX.GD.ZS.
3. Macinko, James, Frederico C Guanais, Pricila Mullachery, and Geronimo Jimenez. n.d. “Gaps In Primary Care And Health System Performance In Six Latin American And Caribbean Countries.” Accessed January 11, 2019. https://doi.org/10.1377/hlthaff.2015.1366.
4. “Our Residency Program – Family Medicine Department.” n.d. Accessed January 11, 2019. https://md.rcm.upr.edu/familymedicine/our-residency-program/.
5. “Population, Total | Data.” n.d. Accessed December 16, 2018. https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.POP.TOTL.
6. “TRADING ECONOMICS | 20 Million INDICATORS FROM 196 COUNTRIES.” n.d. Accessed December 16, 2018. https://tradingeconomics.com/.