🇦🇷 Argentina Healthcare Guide
Buenos Aires has world-class private hospitals — Hospital Aleman and Hospital Italiano are among the best in South America — but healthcare quality drops significantly in the northern provinces of Chaco, Formosa, and Santiago del Estero, where public facilities are under-resourced. Most private clinics in the capital operate in Spanish only, so carrying a written summary of your medical history and medications in Spanish is more useful than assuming you'll find English-speaking staff.
Quick facts
- Emergency number: 107
- Healthcare system: mixed
- Average GP visit: $20 USD
- EHIC/GHIC accepted: No
- Language barrier: medium
Healthcare overview
Buenos Aires has excellent private hospitals, including Hospital Italiano, Hospital Alemán, and CEMIC, with specialist care comparable to European standards. The public system is free for everyone including visitors, but wait times at public hospitals are long and facilities vary in quality. Outside the capital, Mendoza, Córdoba, and Rosario have adequate private options, but Patagonia and the northwest have limited access.
Buenos Aires private hospitals
Hospital Italiano and Hospital Alemán are the top private facilities. Both accept walk-in appointments and have English-speaking staff in international departments.
Patagonia and northern regions
Healthcare in Patagonia, Salta, and Jujuy provinces is significantly more limited. The nearest major hospital may be hours away.
Vaccinations
Recommended
- Hepatitis A
- Hepatitis B
- Typhoid
Prescriptions and pharmacies
Argentine pharmacies (farmacia) are widespread in cities, often open late, and carry most standard medications at prices well below European equivalents. Some medications requiring a prescription elsewhere are available over the counter. Carry your full supply for trips outside Buenos Aires, as rural pharmacy coverage thins quickly.
Lower medication costs
Many medications cost a fraction of European prices in Argentina. Pharmacists in Buenos Aires can advise on local equivalents.
Tips for travellers
Buenos Aires’s private hospitals offer comprehensive specialist care, with Hospital Italiano’s specialist departments among Latin America’s best. Outside the capital, specialist access depends on the province: Córdoba and Mendoza have capable private clinics, while southern Patagonia and the Chaco region require travel to Buenos Aires for complex cases. Having your treatment history saved and accessible in Spanish helps specialists continue your care without delays.
Provincial specialist access
Córdoba and Mendoza have decent specialist clinics. For anything more complex, Buenos Aires is the referral destination.
Health guides for Argentina
- CityBuenos Aires Health Guide
- ConditionHypertension in Argentina: Medication Import Rules, Heat Risk and Buenos Aires Pharmacy Access
- ConditionLupus in Argentina: UV Risk, Plaquenil Access and Import Rules
- ConditionDiabetes in Argentina: Insulin Cold Chain, Heat Risk and ANMAT Import Rules
- ConditionADHD in Argentina: Methylphenidate Import Rules, Stimulant Access and Psychiatrist Costs