Healthcare is usually the second question people ask about Paraguay — right after taxes. The honest answer: private care in Asunción is better than most newcomers expect, dramatically cheaper than in North America or Europe, and easy to access once you know how the system works. This guide covers the public system, private hospitals, insurance options and real 2026 prices.
The two-tier system in one minute
Paraguay runs a public system (free or near-free, but crowded and under-resourced outside the capital) alongside a large private sector of hospitals, clinics and prepaid health plans. Practically every expat and most middle-class Paraguayans use private care. As a resident you may also contribute to IPS, the social-security health scheme, if you're formally employed — but most international residents simply buy a private plan.
Private hospitals worth knowing
- Hospital Privado San Roque, Sanatorio Migone and Sanatorio Italiano — long-established Asunción hospitals with emergency rooms, surgery and specialist departments.
- Hospital Universitario UC (Clínicas area) and newer private centres — modern equipment and growing specialist coverage.
- In Encarnación and Ciudad del Este, private clinics handle everyday and moderate needs; for complex treatment people travel to Asunción.
Doctors are well trained — many studied or specialised in Argentina, Brazil or Europe — and consultations feel unhurried compared with the ten-minute slots common up north. Spanish is the default language; English-speaking doctors exist but are the exception, which is one more reason a local contact matters.
What private care costs in 2026
- Specialist consultation: $25–50 paid out of pocket.
- Dental cleaning: $25–40; a crown from $250.
- Full blood panel: $30–60.
- MRI scan: $200–350.
- Private hospital room, per night: $80–150.
Many residents simply pay cash for routine care — prices are low enough that insurance is really for the big events, not the check-ups.
Insurance: prepaid plans vs international cover
Local prepaid plans (medicina prepaga) from providers connected to the main hospitals typically cost $50–120 per person per month depending on age and coverage, with modest co-pays. They work well for daily life but cap serious treatment amounts.
International health insurance (Cigna Global, IMG, SafetyWing and similar) costs more — often $150–400 per month depending on age — but covers major treatment anywhere in the region, including evacuation to Buenos Aires or São Paulo for highly specialised care. Many families combine a local plan for everyday medicine with a catastrophic international policy.
Pharmacies and everyday medicine
Pharmacies are everywhere, well stocked and inexpensive; many common medicines that need prescriptions elsewhere are available over the counter. Chains like Punto Farma and Farmacenter deliver to your door. Bring a copy of any ongoing prescriptions when you move — matching the active ingredient is usually straightforward.
What to arrange before you move
- Travel/health insurance that covers your first weeks, before a local plan starts.
- Medical records and prescription list, ideally translated into Spanish.
- Vaccination records for children (needed for school enrolment).
- If you have an ongoing condition: a referral letter and recent test results, so a local specialist can pick up where your doctor left off.
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