Need a doctor in São Paulo? Your options as a foreigner
São Paulo is Brazil's largest city and its main business hub, home to a large international and expat community. If you fall ill or need a prescription here, you have three main options: the public system, private hospitals, and an online consultation with an English-speaking doctor — often the fastest and most convenient.
Healthcare in São Paulo: public, private and online
- Public system (SUS): free, but with long waits and little English; emergency care is provided to anyone, but routine care is not guaranteed for non-residents.
- Private hospitals: São Paulo has some of Latin America's best private hospitals, several with dedicated international-patient services — for example, Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein and Hospital Sírio-Libanês. They are excellent but expensive, and best suited to serious or in-person needs.
- Online consultation (telemedicine): for common problems and prescriptions, an online consultation with a doctor licensed in Brazil is faster and more affordable — you speak by video from your hotel, apartment or office anywhere in São Paulo.
Emergencies in São Paulo
For a life-threatening emergency, call 192 (SAMU) for an ambulance, or go to the nearest pronto-socorro (emergency room). For less serious urgent issues — a fever, a cut, a sprain — a public UPA (24-hour urgent care unit) is often faster than a full hospital emergency room. Emergency numbers are free and work 24 hours.
See an English-speaking doctor online from São Paulo
Finding a doctor who speaks fluent English in São Paulo — and getting a same-day appointment — can be difficult and costly. An online consultation removes both problems: you book a video call, explain your symptoms in your own language, and receive medical guidance and, when appropriate, a digital prescription valid across Brazil. You do not need a Brazilian ID (CPF) or a local phone number, and you can be seen from anywhere in the city.
When to choose online, and when to go in person
Online care works well for respiratory infections, urinary symptoms, travelers' diarrhea, allergies, anxiety, minor skin issues and continuing a treatment. For chest pain, difficulty breathing, severe injuries or any life-threatening symptom, go to a pronto-socorro or call 192 immediately.
Frequently asked questions about seeing a doctor in São Paulo
Can I see an English-speaking doctor in São Paulo today?
Yes — an online consultation with a Brazilian-licensed, English-speaking doctor can usually be arranged quickly, without leaving where you are staying.
Do I need a CPF or Brazilian phone number?
No. An online consultation can see you without a CPF or a local phone number.
What is the emergency number in São Paulo?
Dial 192 for SAMU (ambulance). For minor urgent issues, a UPA (24-hour urgent care unit) is often faster than a hospital emergency room.
Can I get a prescription online in São Paulo?
Yes. When appropriate, the doctor can issue a digital prescription signed under Brazilian rules, valid at pharmacies across the country.