Foz do Iguaçu sits on a triple border and lives on tourism, which means its health service is used to treating people who are not from there. That is genuinely good news if something happens to you.
Where to go
The public reference is the Hospital Municipal Padre Germano Lauck, Rua Adoniran Barbosa 370, Parque Monjolo, part of the SUS network and open 24 hours with an emergency reception.
It is the largest hospital in the far west of Paraná, serving nine municipalities of the region — and it is described by the service itself as a reference for emergency and trauma care for tourists and for people without private cover. If you are in Foz and something serious happens, this is where you go.
The border detail worth knowing
Argentina and Paraguay are minutes away, and it is tempting to think of crossing for care. Do not, in an urgent situation: crossing a border adds queues, customs and unfamiliar systems to an emergency. Emergency care on the Brazilian side is provided to anyone, foreign visitors included, without documents and without payment.
It also matters for medication: a prescription issued in Argentina or Paraguay cannot be dispensed by a Brazilian pharmacy, and the reverse is equally true.
As a foreigner
Routine, non-urgent care is not guaranteed for non-residents, and English-speaking staff are uncommon. Carry your passport and a written list of your medicines with generic names.
When an online consultation is faster
For what travellers actually get — a stomach bug, a urinary or sinus infection, a skin reaction, or medication that ran out — a video consultation with a doctor licensed in Brazil is usually quicker than going anywhere in Foz do Iguaçu.
You speak in your own language, from wherever you are staying, and no Brazilian CPF or local phone number is needed. The prescription is valid at pharmacies across the country. If you want the wider picture, read our guide on how healthcare works for foreigners in Brazil.
If a pharmacy turned you away: antibiotics require a prescription in Brazil, and one written by your doctor at home is not valid here. More in how to get a prescription or medicine in Brazil.
Emergency numbers
- 192 — SAMU, emergency medical service
- 193 — fire brigade and rescue
- 190 — police
For chest pain, difficulty breathing, a serious injury or any life-threatening symptom, call 192 or go to a pronto-socorro immediately. Do not wait for an online appointment and do not drive yourself.
Frequently asked questions about seeing a doctor in Foz do Iguaçu
Will the public hospital treat a tourist?
Yes. It is the regional reference for emergency and trauma care, including for visitors.
Should I cross to Argentina or Paraguay for care?
Not in an urgent situation. Emergency care in Brazil is available to you without documents or payment.
Is my prescription from across the border valid?
No. A Brazilian pharmacy can only dispense against a prescription issued in Brazil.
Do I need a CPF?
No, not for emergency care nor for a private or online consultation.
This article is general information and does not replace an individual medical assessment. Reviewed by Dr. Marcelo Rafael Lujan, physician registered with CRM-SC 42.900. Under Brazilian telehealth law, a prescription issued in an online consultation is valid nationwide and the doctor need only be registered with the medical council of their own state.
If you are in Foz do Iguaçu and need care today, you can book an online consultation in English and speak to a Brazilian-licensed doctor from wherever you are staying.