Healthcare in São Paulo

Healthcare in São Paulo

Brazil runs a universal public system called the SUS, and it is universal in the literal sense. The health ministry states that a foreign visitor can use the urgent care network and that these services are free. You are treated in an emergency without documents.

The Hospital das Clínicas complex is the public tertiary referral centre and the largest in Latin America. Sírio-Libanês runs an international patient centre working in English, Spanish and Japanese. Public urgent care runs through the UPA network and the smaller AMA clinics.

A third tier sits between the free public queue and the international hospitals. Low-cost private clinic chains sell same-day appointments for cash, with no plan and no referral. They cost a fraction of private hospital outpatient prices.

Getting seen as a foreigner in São Paulo

The city health app cannot be activated online. You collect an authorisation code in person at your local basic health unit first. Nomads download the app, fail to log in and assume the system is closed to them.

Skip the emergency unit for anything that is not urgent. The smaller AMA clinics handle throat infections, asthma, urinary infections and stitches, with x-ray on site. They run Monday to Saturday and almost no English guide mentions them.

Turn up for a scan with the right paperwork. Imaging requires a written request from a doctor and original photo identification. Arriving without either wastes the trip.

What healthcare costs in São Paulo

Two numbers matter here, and they are far apart. Public urgent care costs nothing at all, including for visitors. Private care is billed per item, so a consultation fee covers the consultation and nothing else.

Private care is billed per item here, so a consultation fee covers the consultation only.

Pharmacies

Antibiotics are not sold over the counter in Brazil, despite the reputation. The prescription is written in duplicate, one copy retained by the pharmacy and logged nationally. Painkillers, antihistamines and cold remedies are freely available. Controlled medicines run on a colour-coded prescription system, yellow for narcotics and blue for benzodiazepines and stimulants. A foreign prescription will not be accepted for either category, so you need a Brazilian doctor to rewrite it. A government pharmacy scheme supplies dozens of common medicines free, and accepts private prescriptions.

Health tips

Common visitor health risks in São Paulo

Emergency

Emergency number: 192

192 is the SAMU ambulance line, 193 fire and rescue, 190 police. English is not guaranteed.

Portuguese everywhere, English at private hospitals

Public services run in Portuguese only. One large private hospital runs an international centre in English, Spanish and Japanese.

Frequently asked questions

Sources

1. [1] Ministério da Saúde, Saúde do Viajante: Durante sua Estadia
2. [2] Prefeitura de São Paulo, Agenda Fácil: Perguntas e respostas
3. [3] Prefeitura de São Paulo, Agenda Fácil chega a todas as UBS da cidade
4. [4] Prefeitura de São Paulo, Em caso de urgência médica, procure uma das 34 UPAs da capital
5. [5] Unifesp Telessaúde, Quando procurar uma UPA, UBS, AMA, Hospital e SAMU?
6. [6] Jornal da USP, 75 anos do Hospital das Clínicas, um centro de excelência nacional
7. [7] Hospital Sírio-Libanês, International Patient Service Center
8. [8] dr.consulta, Marque Consultas e Exames On-line
9. [9] dr.consulta, Exames
10. [10] dr.consulta, Raio X torax 2 PA e perfil
11. [11] dr.consulta, Ressonância magnética tórax
12. [12] Agência Brasil, Estado de SP confirma mais duas mortes por febre amarela
13. [13] Agência Brasil, Governo de SP reforça vacina contra febre amarela na região do ABC
14. [14] Prefeitura de São Paulo, Capital registra queda de 81,2% nos casos de dengue
15. [15] Agência Brasil, São Paulo tem mais de 58 mil casos de dengue desde o início do ano
16. [16] Prefeitura de São Paulo, Boletim COVISA: Arboviroses
17. [17] IQAir, São Paulo among top 10 most polluted cities in the world, 13 May 2026
18. [18] IQAir, Sao Paulo Air Quality Index and Brazil Air Pollution
19. [19] Acervo ISA, Água da torneira de SP é potável, diz Sabesp
20. [20] Ministério da Saúde, Portaria nº 344 de 12 de maio de 1998
21. [21] Conselho Federal de Farmácia, Novos modelos de receituários controlados
22. [22] National Library of Medicine, Restrictive measure for the commercialization of antimicrobials in Brazil
23. [23] Sincofarma SP, Farmácia Popular amplia lista de remédios gratuitos em 2026
24. [24] Ministério das Relações Exteriores, Visto Temporário XIV, Nômade Digital
25. [25] Ministério da Justiça, Portal de Imigração, Resolução Normativa nº 45 de 2021

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Country guide

• CountryHealthcare in Brazil