Emergencies in Panama City

Good to Know

• 911 is the number to remember for any emergency in Panama City — it covers ambulance dispatch (via SUME 911) and can also route general emergencies, but police and fire have their own direct lines (104 and 103) which locals often use.
• 112 does not work reliably in Panama — don't rely on it as a fallback the way you might in Europe.
• 911 operators generally speak Spanish only, so having a translation app ready or a Spanish-speaking contact on standby is genuinely useful if you're not fluent.
• For tourists specifically, Panama City has a dedicated tourist police number (511-9260) that can be faster and more geared toward visitor issues like theft or scams than the general 104 line.
• Public ambulances can be delayed by traffic, so for non-life-threatening but urgent situations, taking a taxi or rideshare directly to a private hospital (e.g. in Punta Pacífica or Paitilla) is a common practical workaround among expats.
• Downloading the SINAPROC ALERTA app is worth it if you're staying through the rainy season (roughly May–November), since flash flooding and landslide alerts are issued through it in real time.
• For life-threatening emergencies in Panama City, call 911 for ambulance/police/fire dispatch.
• Private hospitals (Punta Pacífica, Paitilla, Hospital Nacional, San Fernando, The Panama Clinic) are the realistic default for nomads and expats — they have better English-speaking staff, faster service, and modern equipment, but require upfront payment or proof of insurance before non-emergency treatment.
• Public hospitals (Santo Tomás, the CSS's Complejo Hospitalario/Centro de Trauma) will treat true emergencies regardless of ability to pay, but expect long waits, crowding, and limited English support — they're best understood as a backstop, not a first choice, for a visiting nomad.
• Panama does not publish a formal US-style Level I–IV trauma center classification system for its hospitals; when hospitals describe 'trauma capability' it generally refers to in-house trauma-trained staff and surgical/ICU capacity rather than an externally audited trauma-level certification.
• Travel/health insurance that explicitly covers Panama and includes medical evacuation is strongly recommended, since private ER costs can be high and are typically billed directly to the patient before treatment for non-life-threatening cases.