Buenos Aires

Three kids, foreign country, and you need hospital. We've been in that exact spot in Buenos Aires.

What to Know

Buenos Aires has a strong private hospital system that is well set up for foreigners. Hospital Italiano, Hospital Aleman, and Hospital Britanico are the three most commonly recommended for travelers. All three have modern emergency departments, pediatric wings, and staff who speak at least some English. The public system exists and is free for everyone including tourists, but wait times are long and facilities vary a lot.

A private ER visit typically costs between 15,000 and 50,000 ARS depending on what's needed. Seeing a pediatrician at a private hospital runs around 10,000 to 20,000 ARS. By international standards this is very affordable. Most private hospitals accept credit cards and can provide itemized receipts for travel insurance claims. The public hospitals are genuinely free, no questions asked, but the experience is different.

We went to Hospital Italiano when one of our kids had a high fever and the process was straightforward. You check in at the guardia (ER), they triage you, and you see a doctor. The whole visit took about two hours including wait time. If you're in Palermo or Recoleta, Hospital Italiano and Hospital Aleman are both within a short taxi ride. For the southern neighborhoods, Hospital Britanico in Barracas is closer. Taxis are cheap and Uber works well in BA. Keep your passport handy as they'll need it for registration.

Doctors at the private hospitals generally speak some English, especially at Hospital Britanico and Hospital Aleman which have historical ties to the British and German communities. Reception staff are hit or miss with English. Having Google Translate ready helps for the intake paperwork.

For emergencies, go straight to the nearest private hospital guardia. For non-urgent issues, many private hospitals have consultorios externos (outpatient clinics) where you can book a same-day or next-day appointment with a specialist. This is faster and cheaper than going through the ER for something that isn't urgent.

Hospital de Ninos Ricardo Gutierrez in Recoleta is the main public children's hospital and has a dedicated pediatric ER. Hospital Italiano also has a well-regarded pediatric department. For private care, Swiss Medical and Sanatorio Otamendi both treat children. Bring your child's vaccination records if you have them.

This is one of those things nobody tells you before you travel with kids.

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This page is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice. Information may be outdated or inaccurate. Always call ahead to confirm. See our full disclaimer.

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Sources: CDC Travel Health: Argentina · Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires