medical education in panama 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 columbus university universidad latina de panama universidad latinoamericana de ciencia y tecnología ulacit 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. universities with graduate entry medical programs only: 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 united states. candidates are first required to have a premedical degree in an approved university. a 4-year bachelor's degree is required.