🏥 Healthcare Overview

System: Mixed public-private. Public hospitals are under-resourced. Private clinics in Asunción offer better care.

Quality: ★★☆☆☆ (2/5)

Private hospitals in Asunción provide adequate care. Public hospitals are overcrowded and poorly equipped. Healthcare outside the capital is very limited. For serious conditions, patients often travel to Buenos Aires.

💡 Medical Tourism

Paraguay is not a medical tourism destination. Ciudad del Este on the Brazilian border has some lower-cost medical services.

🏨 Hospitals & Clinics Near Tourist Areas

Recommended facilities for travelers — English-speaking staff available at most listed locations.

Sanatorio Migone Batté ⚠️ Limited English

📍 Near: Asunción (center, near Panteón de los Héroes)

📞 +595-21-498-200

Leading private hospital in Asunción. Modern facilities. Spanish and Guaraní spoken.

Hospital Italiano ⚠️ Limited English

📍 Near: Asunción (center)

📞 +595-21-200-144

Well-regarded private hospital. Spanish-speaking.

💊 Pharmacy Guide

Access: moderate

Hours: Pharmacies open 8am-8pm in cities. Some 24/7 options in Asunción.

Prescription rules: Many medications available without prescription. Prices are very low. Quality control can be inconsistent.

Available Over-the-Counter

  • paracetamol
  • ibuprofen
  • antihistamines
  • antacids
  • anti-diarrheals
  • oral rehydration salts
  • insect repellent

🗣️ Useful Pharmacy Phrases

💡 Handy phrases at the pharmacy

  • I need medicine for a headache: Necesito remedio para el dolor de cabeza (Spanish)
  • I need a doctor: Necesito un médico (Spanish)
  • Where is the nearest pharmacy?: ¿Dónde está la farmacia más cercana? (Spanish)
  • I feel sick: Che rasỵ (Guaraní (widely spoken))

💡 Tips

Pharmacies in Asunción are reasonably stocked. Many medications available without prescription at low cost. Staff speak Spanish and sometimes Guaraní.

🏪 Pharmacy Chains You’ll See

Most pharmacies in this country are independent rather than chain-branded. Look for the universal pharmacy markers: a green cross sign in most of Europe and Latin America, a red ‘A’ (Apotheke) in German-speaking countries, or local-language signage like apteka, lékárna, or farmacia.

💊 Common OTC Medications by Local Brand

Knowing the local brand name makes asking for common over-the-counter medications much easier.

  • paracetamol/acetaminophen → Tylenol or paracetamol generic
    Tylenol is widely available; locals often ask for 'paracetamol' or 'acetaminofén'.
  • ibuprofen → Advil or Motrin
    Advil is the dominant retail brand.
  • loperamide (anti-diarrheal) → Imodium
    Available OTC at most pharmacies.

💉 Medications & Restrictions

Carry a doctor's letter listing medications. Spanish translation helpful. Keep medications in original packaging.

Controlled / Restricted Substances

🚫 Watch out for these

  • ⚠️ Cannabis/CBD products — Medical cannabis has some legal framework. Recreational use is illegal.
  • ⚠️ Narcotic medications — Carry documentation for controlled substances.

🦷 Dental Care

Availability: Dental care available in Asunción at very low cost.

Typical cost range: PYG 150,000-400,000 ($20-53) for consultation; PYG 300,000-1,000,000 ($40-133) for procedures

Very affordable dental care. Quality varies.

🦷 Dental emergency?

Sanatorio Migone has dental services. Private dental clinics in Asunción.

🛡️ Travel Insurance

⚠️ Strongly recommended

Average cost: $20-40/week

💡 Tip

Travel insurance with medical evacuation recommended. Serious cases may require evacuation to Buenos Aires.

📋 How to File an Insurance Claim

Hospitals require upfront payment. Keep all receipts. Documentation in Spanish.

💵 Typical Out-of-Pocket Costs

Estimated cash prices (USD):

  • Doctor visit (private clinic): $10-30
  • ER visit (no admission): $40-150
  • Overnight hospital stay: $60-250
  • Ambulance call-out: $20-80

Estimated typical out-of-pocket costs at private or international facilities. Public-system rates can be much lower (or free for residents). Actual costs vary by city, facility, and exchange rate.

🚁 Medical Evacuation

Medical evacuation insurance is essential for serious cases. São Paulo (Hospital Albert Einstein, Sírio-Libanês) is the leading South American medical hub. Buenos Aires and Santiago handle southern-cone cases. Actual costs depend on distance, aircraft type, and whether ICU-level care is required in transit.

Primary destination: São Paulo

Secondary destination: Buenos Aires or Miami

Typical cost band: $30,000-100,000

Common providers: Global Rescue, MedJet, International SOS — compare current quotes and policy terms before relying on any single provider.

💉 Vaccinations

Required

  • 🔴 Yellow Fever (recommended for all travelers; required if arriving from endemic area)

Recommended

  • 🟡 Hepatitis A
  • 🟡 Hepatitis B
  • 🟡 Typhoid
  • 🟡 Rabies (for rural travel)
  • 🟡 Routine vaccinations

Yellow Fever vaccination recommended for all travelers. Dengue risk exists — use insect repellent. No malaria risk.

🚰 Water & Food Safety

⚠️ Use caution — bottled water recommended in some areas

Tap water quality varies. Safe in Asunción but use bottled water in rural areas. Bottled water widely available.

Food Safety Tips

Eat at established restaurants. Paraguayan cuisine (chipa, sopa paraguaya) is generally safe when fresh. Be cautious with street food and raw vegetables.

🧠 Mental Health Resources

🆘 Crisis Line: Not widely established — contact hospital emergency departments

International crisis support: findahelpline.com — worldwide directory of crisis lines

English-speaking therapists: Very limited. Some in Asunción.

Mental health services are limited in Paraguay.

♿ Accessibility

Accessibility is very limited. Infrastructure is challenging.

Hospital accessibility: Private hospitals have some accessibility.

Accessible transport: No accessible public transport. Private transport recommended.

💡 Accessibility tips

Asunción city center has uneven sidewalks. Tourist infrastructure is developing.

🫁 COVID & Respiratory Illness

Entry requirements: No COVID testing or vaccination requirements.

Mask policy: No mask mandates.

Testing availability: Available at hospitals.

Dengue and heat-related illness are more relevant concerns.

🚨 Emergency Contacts

🆘 Emergency: 911 (unified emergency)

📚 Sources & References

Data compiled from official government health sources, WHO, and traveler-reported information.

⚠️ This guide is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a healthcare professional before traveling and verify current entry requirements with official sources.