Medical education in Panama is principally offered and developed by accredited and government recognized medical school

Medical school

A medical school is a tertiary educational institution—or part of such an institution—that teaches medicine. Degree programs offered at medical schools often include Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine, Bachelor/Doctor of Medicine, Doctor of Philosophy, master's degree, or other post-secondary...

s in the country. There are 5 medical schools in Panama

Panama

Panama , officially the Republic of Panama , is the southernmost country of Central America. Situated on the isthmus connecting North and South America, it is bordered by Costa Rica to the northwest, Colombia to the southeast, the Caribbean Sea to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the south. The...

, 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

High school

High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....

; while graduate entry degrees are typically 4 years in length, and draw a university

University

A university is an institution of higher education and research, which grants academic degrees in a variety of subjects. A university is an organisation that provides both undergraduate education and postgraduate education...

 graduate with a current 4 years Bachelor's degree

Bachelor's degree

A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...

 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

Medicine

Medicine is the science and art of healing. It encompasses a variety of health care practices evolved to maintain and restore health by the prevention and treatment of illness....

; 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

Hospital

A hospital is a health care institution providing patient treatment by specialized staff and equipment. Hospitals often, but not always, provide for inpatient care or longer-term patient stays....

 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

Medical license

In most countries, only persons with a medical license bestowed either by a specified government-approved professional association or a government agency are authorized to practice medicine. Licenses are not granted automatically to all people with medical degrees...

 to engage in independent medical practice in Panama

Medical Universities

Universities with undergraduate entry medical programs only:

1. Universidad de Panama 
2. Columbus University

Columbus University

Columbus University is an unaccredited distance education institution that has been based at different times in Louisiana and Picayune, Mississippi....

 
3. Universidad Latina de Panama

Universidad Latina de Panamá

The Latin University of Panama is a private university, located in Panama City, Panama. Established in 1991, it is now considered as one of the largest private universities in the country.- History :...

4. Universidad Latinoamericana de Ciencia y Tecnología ULACIT

Universities with graduate entry medical programs only:

1. International School of Medical Sciences ISMS

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

External links

• http://www.up.ac.pa/ftp/f_medicina/Educ.Medica%20Cont/EDUCACION%20MEDICA%20CONTINUA.PDF
• http://www.sumaclick.com/owens/relacion-de-la-educacion-medica-de-posgrado-y-la-planificacion-nacional-de-salud-en-america-latina-3/
• http://apmf.wordpress.com/2007/06/14/la-medicina-familiar-en-panama/
• http://www.gacetaoficial.gob.pa/pdfTemp/26105/11898.pdf
• http://www.coneaupa.edu.pa/page_ley30