Emergency Numbers & Access
Call 107 for SAME ambulance in Buenos Aires (Servicio de Atención Médica de Emergencias — excellent, free public service). Call 911 elsewhere. PUBLIC HOSPITALS ARE FREE FOR EVERYONE — this is a constitutional right (Article 14 bis) actively upheld. You can walk into any public hospital ER and receive treatment without payment, registration, or proof of insurance. No forms, no bills, no questions about nationality. Hospital Italiano, Hospital de Clínicas (UBA), and Hospital Fernández in Buenos Aires are excellent public teaching hospitals. For private emergency care, Swiss Medical and Galeno have 24/7 emergency centres.
Response time: 8-15 minutes in Buenos Aires (SAME system is efficient); 10-25 minutes in Córdoba, Rosario, Mendoza; 20-60+ minutes in rural areas and Patagonia.
Cost: Public hospitals: COMPLETELY FREE for everyone including foreigners — no registration, no insurance, no payment. Private clinic ER: ARS varies with inflation — roughly $30-200 at parallel exchange rate. Private admission: $50-500+/day. ICU (private): $200-1,000+/day. Surgery (private): $500-10,000+ (extraordinary value). Medical evacuation from Patagonia: $10,000-40,000+.
Healthcare System
Argentina has a UNIQUE constitutional guarantee: public hospitals provide FREE healthcare to EVERYONE, including tourists and undocumented immigrants — no questions asked, no bills. This is genuine and actively used. Buenos Aires public hospitals (Hospital de Clínicas, Hospital Italiano) are well-regarded teaching institutions. The private sector (prepagas like Swiss Medical, OSDE, Galeno) offers faster, more comfortable care. Argentina has a strong medical tradition — Buenos Aires was historically called the "Paris of South America" and its medical schools are among the region's best. The country is an emerging medical tourism destination, particularly for dental, cosmetic, and fertility treatments — extraordinary value given the perpetually favourable exchange rate for foreigners.
Designed for: Public hospitals are constitutionally FREE FOR EVERYONE including tourists — a globally unique benefit. Obras sociales cover employed workers. Prepagas provide premium private access.
GP Access & Costs
Public hospitals and centros de salud (community health centres) are free for all — walk-in, no appointment needed. Private clinics (consultorios) accept walk-in or appointment. "Guardia" (ER/urgent care) at any hospital handles walk-in patients 24/7. No referral needed for specialists at either public or private facilities.
Typical wait: Public hospital guardia: 1-4 hours (triage-based). Public hospital outpatient turno (appointment): 1-4 weeks. Private clinic: same-day to next-day. Private specialist: 3-10 days.
Availability: Excellent in Buenos Aires (dozens of hospitals and clinics). Good in Córdoba, Rosario, Mendoza, Tucumán, Mar del Plata. Limited in Patagonia (Ushuaia, El Calafate have basic hospitals) and remote northwest. Buenos Aires has more doctors per capita than almost any city in the world.
GP Visit
Public hospital: COMPLETELY FREE
Private GP
Public: COMPLETELY FREE. Private GP: roughly $15-40 (at parallel exchange rate). Specialist (private): $25-80. Dental cleaning: $10-30. Dental veneer: $100-300 (80% less than US). Executive health check: $50-200. Cosmetic surgery (rhinoplasty): $1,500-4,000 — extraordinary value.
ER Without Insurance
Public: COMPLETELY FREE — no bills, no registration. Private ER: $30-200. Private admission: $50-500+/day. ICU: $200-1,000+/day. Surgery (private): $500-10,000. At parallel exchange rate, even private healthcare is remarkably affordable.
Medication
Medications are very affordable at Argentine pharmacies (farmacias). Major chains: Farmacity (largest), Farmacias del Pueblo, Dr. Ahorro. Generic medications (genéricos) mandated and widely available at 50-70% less than branded. Antibiotics: roughly $2-8. Common medications: $1-10. Many medications available without prescription at pharmacist discretion. "Farmacia de turno" (duty pharmacy) system ensures 24/7 access in every neighbourhood — schedule published in newspapers and pharmacy windows. PAMI pharmacies (senior healthcare system) sometimes serve general public at reduced prices.
Pharmacy & Medication
Hours: Farmacity: generally 8am-10pm, some 24/7. Farmacias del Pueblo, Dr. Ahorro: similar hours. Hospital pharmacies: 24/7. "Farmacia de turno" (rotating duty pharmacy) provides 24/7 access in every barrio — schedule posted on pharmacy doors and in newspapers.
OTC: Wide range — antibiotics, anti-inflammatories, and many medications available without strict prescription enforcement. Pharmacists are knowledgeable and will recommend treatments. Prescription technically required for antibiotics but variably enforced. Compounding pharmacies (farmacias magistrales) can prepare custom formulations.
Controlled substances: Argentina has progressive drug policies. Personal cannabis use is decriminalised (Supreme Court ruling 2009). Medical cannabis legalised 2017. Carry doctor's letter for controlled medications. Customs generally reasonable but may inspect medications.
Practical Tips
- Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires — one of Latin America's best hospitals, both public and private wings, some English-speaking staff
- Hospital de Clínicas (UBA) — excellent free public teaching hospital, University of Buenos Aires medical school
- Hospital Fernández — good public hospital in Palermo neighbourhood
- Swiss Medical Centro Médico — premium private care with English-speaking staff
- Bring USD cash and exchange at the parallel rate — your healthcare purchasing power is extraordinary
- Farmacity is the most reliable pharmacy chain — widespread, modern, well-stocked
- For visa run, take the Buquebus ferry to Colonia del Sacramento, Uruguay (1 hour) to reset your 90-day tourist stay
- Yellow Fever vaccine at Hospital Muñiz (Buenos Aires) — free vaccination centre for travel
- Download Google Translate offline Spanish — English is limited even at good hospitals
- Argentine "guardia" (ER/urgent care) is open 24/7 at every hospital — used broadly for non-emergency issues too
Who can get care in Argentina?
Emergency care for anyone
Emergency departments in Argentina treat everyone regardless of residency or insurance status.
Public system for visitors
Short-term visitors can use the public system broadly on the same basis as residents.
Seeing a Doctor as a visitor
Public hospitals and centros de salud (community health centres) are free for all — walk-in, no appointment needed. Private clinics (consultorios) accept walk-in or appointment. "Guardia" (ER/urgent care) at any hospital handles walk-in patients 24/7. No referral needed for specialists at either public or private facilities. Typical cost: Public hospital: COMPLETELY FREE. Private GP: ARS varies with inflation — roughly $15-40 at parallel rate. Private specialist: $25-80. Dental cleaning: $10-30. Executive health check (private): $50-200. At the parallel ("blue") exchange rate, Argentina is one of the most affordable countries in the world for healthcare. Typical wait: Public hospital guardia: 1-4 hours (triage-based). Public hospital outpatient turno (appointment): 1-4 weeks. Private clinic: same-day to next-day. Private specialist: 3-10 days.
Insurance needed for entry or visa
Not a formal entry requirement, but medical cover is strongly recommended. Emergency care without cover: Public: COMPLETELY FREE — no bills, no registration. Private ER: $30-200. Private admission: $50-500+/day. ICU: $200-1,000+/day. Surgery (private): $500-10,000. At parallel exchange rate, even private healthcare is remarkably affordable..
Documents worth having ready
- Passport with 6+ months validity
- Travel insurance (recommended but NOT required — remember public healthcare is free)
- Return or onward ticket (may be checked at immigration)
- USD cash for exchange at "blue" parallel rate (significantly better than official rate — this is legal since 2023 reforms)
- Prescription medications with doctor's letter
- Hotel booking or invitation letter
Local contacts in Argentina
Emergency services
107 (SAME ambulance — Buenos Aires) / 911 (national emergency) / 100 (fire) / 101 (police)
Call 107 for SAME ambulance in Buenos Aires (Servicio de Atención Médica de Emergencias — excellent, free public service). Call 911 elsewhere. PUBLIC HOSPITALS ARE FREE FOR EVERYONE — this is a constitutional right (Article 14 bis) actively upheld. You can walk into any public hospital ER and receive treatment without payment, registration, or proof of insurance. No forms, no bills, no questions about nationality. Hospital Italiano, Hospital de Clínicas (UBA), and Hospital Fernández in Buenos Aires are excellent public teaching hospitals. For private emergency care, Swiss Medical and Galeno have 24/7 emergency centres.
Pharmacies
Farmacity: generally 8am-10pm, some 24/7. Farmacias del Pueblo, Dr. Ahorro: similar hours. Hospital pharmacies: 24/7. "Farmacia de turno" (rotating duty pharmacy) provides 24/7 access in every barrio — schedule posted on pharmacy doors and in newspapers.
Wide range — antibiotics, anti-inflammatories, and many medications available without strict prescription enforcement. Pharmacists are knowledgeable and will recommend treatments. Prescription technically required for antibiotics but variably enforced. Compounding pharmacies (farmacias magistrales) can prepare custom formulations.
What is the emergency number in Argentina?
107 (SAME ambulance — Buenos Aires) or 911 (national emergency) or 100 (fire) or 101 (police) in Argentina. Call 107 for SAME ambulance in Buenos Aires (Servicio de Atención Médica de Emergencias — excellent, free public service). Call 911 elsewhere. PUBLIC HOSPITALS ARE FREE FOR EVERYONE — this is a constitutional right (Article 14 bis) actively upheld. You can walk into any public hospital ER and receive treatment without payment, registration, or proof of insurance. No forms, no bills, no questions about nationality. Hospital Italiano, Hospital de Clínicas (UBA), and Hospital Fernández in Buenos Aires are excellent public teaching hospitals. For private emergency care, Swiss Medical and Galeno have 24/7 emergency centres.
How much does a Doctor visit cost in Argentina?
Public hospital: COMPLETELY FREE. Private GP: ARS varies with inflation — roughly $15-40 at parallel rate. Private specialist: $25-80. Dental cleaning: $10-30. Executive health check (private): $50-200. At the parallel ("blue") exchange rate, Argentina is one of the most affordable countries in the world for healthcare. Private consultations: Public: COMPLETELY FREE. Private GP: roughly $15-40 (at parallel exchange rate). Specialist (private): $25-80. Dental cleaning: $10-30. Dental veneer: $100-300 (80% less than US). Executive health check: $50-200. Cosmetic surgery (rhinoplasty): $1,500-4,000 — extraordinary value..
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Sources: Argentine Ministry of Health (Ministerio de Salud), SAME Buenos Aires, WHO Argentina, CDC Travelers' Health — Argentina 2024, Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires, Dirección Nacional de Migraciones
Last reviewed: March 2026 by ViscaCare