Medical education in Panama

Medical education in Panama is principally offered and developed by accredited and government recognized medical schools in the country. There are 5 medical schools in Panama, typically offering the Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery degrees. In Panama medical programs are divided into two types: undergraduate entry and graduate entry.

Entrance

Undergraduate entry degrees are typically 6 years in duration and commonly tend to draw students entering directly from high school; while graduate entry degrees are typically 4 years in length, and draw a university graduate with a current 4 years Bachelor's degree required for entry. These entries provide the medical programs with a variety in the age range and academic backgrounds of the participants. It is important to note, however, that the graduate entry program still confers a bachelor's degree in Medicine; that although it is a graduate entry program, it does not confer a postgraduate degree in itself.

Requirements

In order to practice medicine in the Republic, or enter a residency program in Panama it is required to be Panamenian citizen.

Other requirements include:

  • First year rotatory Internship: Qualified medical practitioners must successfully undertake and complete one year of supervised practice, generally known as an internship. Internship is undertaken in hospital positions accredited for this purpose.
  • 2 year rural Internship: Upon successful conclusion of the first intern year, doctors are required to undertake and complete a second year of internship at an assigned government health institution. Once this requirement is fulfilled the medical practitioners qualify for a full registration in the Medical Board and are licensed to engage in independent medical practice in Panama

Medical universities

Universities with undergraduate entry medical programs only:

  • Universidad de Panama[1]
  • Columbus University[2]
  • Universidad Latina de Panama
  • Universidad Latinoamericana de Ciencia y Tecnología ULACIT [3]
  • Universidad Autónoma de Chiriquí UNACHI, The only one university, outside of Panama City, which offers a complete medical program. This university is located in David, Chiriqui.[4]

Universities with graduate entry medical programs only:

  • International School of Medical Sciences ISMS [5]

All the graduate entry programs share a similar application process at this time and comparable to the requirements in the United States. Candidates are first required to have a Premedical Degree in an approved University. A 4-year bachelor's degree is required.

References
  1. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2010-03-30. Retrieved 2010-05-31.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  2. "Home". columbus.edu.
  3. "Ciencias de la Salud". Archived from the original on 2012-12-21. Retrieved 2011-12-04.
  4. "Facultad de Medicina". Archived from the original on 2013-12-13. Retrieved 2014-01-07.
  5. "Home". isms.edu.pa.
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