Emergency Numbers & Access
Call 103 for ambulance. In UB, go directly to SOS Medica or Intermed Hospital. Rural emergencies: contact your tour operator for helicopter evacuation.
Response time: Ulaanbaatar: 15-30 min. Rural steppe: hours to days — helicopter may be needed.
Cost: Public ER: MNT 10,000-50,000 ($3-15). SOS Medica: $100-500. Medical evacuation: $20,000-60,000.
Healthcare System
Mongolia has extremely limited healthcare outside Ulaanbaatar (UB). SOS Medica Mongolia in UB is the go-to clinic for foreigners — English-speaking, Western-standard care. Songdo Hospital and Intermed Hospital also serve expats. Outside UB, the vast steppe has only basic soum (district) health centres with limited equipment and no English. Extreme cold (-30°C to -40°C in winter), remote distances, and limited roads make medical access dangerous. Medical evacuation to Seoul or Beijing for serious cases.
Designed for: Residents. Tourists can access private clinics in UB. Medical evacuation for serious cases.
GP Access & Costs
SOS Medica (UB) for foreigners — walk-in, English-speaking. Public hospitals accept all but no English.
Typical wait: SOS Medica: same-day. Public: 1-4 hours.
Availability: Good in UB (private clinics). Non-existent in rural steppe — nearest doctor may be 200km+ away.
GP Visit
Public: MNT 5,000-20,000 ($1
Private GP
$50-150 at SOS Medica (UB)
ER Without Insurance
SOS Medica ER: $200-1,000. Public ER: $3-15. Evacuation to Seoul: $20,000-60,000.
Medication
Basic medications available in UB pharmacies. Very limited outside UB. Bring ALL needed medications for rural trips.
Pharmacy & Medication
Hours: UB: 9am-8pm daily. Rural: extremely limited.
OTC: Reasonable range in UB. Almost nothing in rural areas.
Controlled substances: Strict drug laws. Carry prescriptions and doctor's letters for all medications.
Practical Tips
- SOS Medica Mongolia (UB) — Western-standard care, English-speaking, your first port of call
- Intermed Hospital (UB) — good private hospital with international department
- Bring a COMPREHENSIVE first-aid kit for any trip outside Ulaanbaatar
- Satellite phone or GPS tracker essential for steppe/Gobi trips — no mobile coverage
- Medical evacuation insurance must explicitly cover remote rescue/helicopter
- Winter travel (-30°C+): frostbite can occur in minutes. Layer properly.
- Altitude: western Mongolia reaches 3,000m+ — acclimatise if trekking
- Do NOT eat marmot meat — plague risk is real and fatal if untreated
Who can get care in Mongolia?
Emergency care for anyone
Emergency departments in Mongolia treat everyone regardless of residency or insurance status. Charges can still apply afterwards.
Public system for visitors
The public system does not cover visitors, so care is paid privately or through insurance.
Seeing a Doctor as a visitor
SOS Medica (UB) for foreigners — walk-in, English-speaking. Public hospitals accept all but no English. Typical cost: Public: MNT 5,000-20,000 ($1.50-6). SOS Medica: $50-150. Intermed: $30-100. Typical wait: SOS Medica: same-day. Public: 1-4 hours.
Insurance needed for entry or visa
Not a formal entry requirement, but medical cover is strongly recommended. Emergency care without cover: SOS Medica ER: $200-1,000. Public ER: $3-15. Evacuation to Seoul: $20,000-60,000..
Documents worth having ready
- Passport
- Travel insurance with medical evacuation and remote rescue coverage
- Prescriptions
- Emergency contact details
Local contacts in Mongolia
Emergency services
103 (ambulance) / 102 (police) / 101 (fire)
Call 103 for ambulance. In UB, go directly to SOS Medica or Intermed Hospital. Rural emergencies: contact your tour operator for helicopter evacuation.
Pharmacies
UB: 9am-8pm daily. Rural: extremely limited.
Reasonable range in UB. Almost nothing in rural areas.
What is the emergency number in Mongolia?
103 (ambulance) or 102 (police) or 101 (fire) in Mongolia. Call 103 for ambulance. In UB, go directly to SOS Medica or Intermed Hospital. Rural emergencies: contact your tour operator for helicopter evacuation.
How much does a Doctor visit cost in Mongolia?
Public: MNT 5,000-20,000 ($1.50-6). SOS Medica: $50-150. Intermed: $30-100. Private consultations: $50-150 at SOS Medica (UB).
Join the waitlist to see 4 more FAQs
Sources: Mongolia Ministry of Health, WHO Mongolia, CDC Travelers' Health 2024, SOS International Mongolia
Last reviewed: March 2026 by ViscaCare