Healthcare system in Paraguay: how it works and options for expats

It's one of the primary concerns for French-speaking expatriates considering Paraguay: how does the healthcare system work? Will I be able to get proper medical care? The stereotypes about South America—dilapidated hospitals, doctor shortages, outdated equipment—are persistent. However, the reality in 2026 is quite different, especially in Asunción, where the private sector offers a level of care that pleasantly surprises newcomers.

This guide provides an overview of the healthcare system in Paraguay as a whole: the functioning of the public and private sectors, the real costs of consultations and hospitalizations, available insurance options, the quality of facilities, and practical advice for French-speaking expatriates who want to receive calm and effective medical care far from Europe.

Overview: How the Paraguayan healthcare system is organized

The healthcare system in Paraguay is based on three distinct pillars that coexist in parallel:

1. The Public Sector: The Ministry of Health

The Ministerio de Salud Pública y Bienestar Social (Ministry of Public Health and Social Welfare) manages a network of public hospitals and health centers distributed throughout the country. These facilities are accessible for free or at very low cost to anyone in Paraguay, including foreigners. In theory, it's a universal safety net.

In practice, the public sector suffers from well-known limitations: long waiting times, sometimes aging equipment in facilities outside the capital, understaffed medical personnel, and a lack of medicines in some establishments. Public hospitals in Asunción, such as Hospital de Clínicas, offer a decent level of care for emergencies, but the vast majority of expatriates rarely turn to them for scheduled treatments.

2. IPS: Paraguayan Social Security

IPS (Instituto de Previsión Social) is Paraguay's social security organization. It covers formal sector employees and their families. Contributions are split between the employer (16.5% of salary) and the employee (9%). In return, IPS offers health coverage, maternity benefits, and a retirement pension.

IPS clinics and hospitals are of a higher standard than the traditional public sector, with more modern equipment and shorter waiting times for care. IPS's Hospital Central in Asunción is one of the largest in the country and offers a wide range of specialties.

For an expatriate employed in Paraguay, IPS affiliation is automatic. For self-employed individuals and entrepreneurs, affiliation is possible on a voluntary basis. However, most French-speaking expatriates prefer the private sector for its flexibility, shorter waiting times, and superior comfort.

3. The Private Sector: The Expatriate's Choice

The vast majority of French-speaking expatriates in Paraguay turn to the private sector. And for good reason: private clinics in Asunción offer a level of care comparable to European standards, with doctors often trained in Brazil, Argentina, the United States, or Europe, state-of-the-art equipment, and very short waiting times for treatment.

All of this at prices that would make any French person, accustomed to additional fees and months of waiting to see a specialist, dream.

The best private clinics and hospitals in Asunción

Sanatorio Migone

One of Paraguay's most reputable private establishments. Located in the central district of Asunción, Sanatorio Migone offers state-of-the-art services in cardiology, surgery, oncology, maternity, and emergency care. The facilities are modern, the staff is professional, and several doctors speak English. It is often the first choice for expatriates for routine care as well as for complex procedures.

Hospital Italiano

Founded by the Italian community in Paraguay, this hospital enjoys an excellent reputation for its quality of care and welcoming environment. It offers a comprehensive range of medical and surgical specialties. Its modern facilities and patient-centered approach make it a favorite among foreign residents.

Centro Médico La Costa

Located in the La Costa neighborhood, this establishment specializes in traumatology, orthopedics, and sports medicine. It also has advanced medical imaging services (MRI, CT scans) and a high-performing analysis laboratory.

Sanatorio Santa Clara and others

Asunción has several other quality private clinics: Sanatorio Santa Clara, Centro Médico Integral, Diagnósticos S.A. (a benchmark in medical imaging), and the Centro Materno Infantil for pediatrics and maternity. The offer is sufficiently diverse to cover all medical needs without leaving the country.

How much does healthcare cost in Paraguay?

Consultations

The prices for private consultations in Paraguay are significantly lower than those in Europe:

• General practitioner: 25 to 50 USD
• Specialist (cardiologist, dermatologist, etc.): 40 to 80 USD
• Dentist (consultation + scaling): 30 to 60 USD
• Ophthalmologist (consultation + examination): 40 to 70 USD
• Physiotherapist (session): 20 to 40 USD

And most importantly, appointment wait times are incomparably shorter. Getting an appointment with a specialist in a few days is the norm in Paraguay. In France, the wait is often measured in weeks or months.

Tests and analyses

• Complete blood test: 20 to 50 USD
• X-ray: 15 to 30 USD
• Ultrasound: 30 to 60 USD
• MRI: 150 to 300 USD
• CT scan: 100 to 250 USD

Hospitalizations and surgery

• Hospitalization day in a private room: 150 to 400 USD
• Simple outpatient surgery: 500 to 2,000 USD
• Major surgery (prosthesis, heart): 5,000 to 20,000 USD
• Childbirth (private clinic): 1,500 to 4,000 USD

By way of comparison, an MRI in France costs between €300 and €500, a day of hospitalization often exceeds €1,000, and major surgery costs tens of thousands of euros. The difference is significant, even taking into account reimbursement by French Social Security—a reimbursement you are no longer entitled to as a non-resident.

Health insurance options for expatriates

Option 1: Paraguayan private health insurance (prepaga)

"Prepagas" are prepaid health plans offered by private clinics or local insurers. In exchange for a monthly contribution, you benefit from consultations, examinations, hospitalizations, and surgeries within the insurer's network. It's the equivalent of a mutual insurance company in France, but integrated directly with the clinics.

Prices vary depending on age, coverage, and insurer:

• Adult 30-45 years: 80 to 180 USD/month
• Adult 45-60 years: 150 to 300 USD/month
• Adult 60-75 years: 250 to 500 USD/month
• Family (2 adults + 2 children): 250 to 500 USD/month

The most reputable prepagas include Asismed, AMSA, Plan de Salud del Sanatorio Migone, and the Hospital Italiano plan. They cover consultations, hospitalizations, surgeries, and emergencies within their network of partner clinics.

Option 2: International health insurance

For expatriates who travel frequently or want worldwide coverage, international health insurance (Cigna, Allianz Care, Henner, April International) offers broader protection. Prices are obviously higher (300 to 800 USD/month depending on age and coverage), but you are covered worldwide, including during your returns to Europe.

Option 3: CFE + local insurance

For French expatriates, the combination of CFE + local prepaga is often the best compromise. The Caisse des Français de l'Étranger (Fund for French Citizens Abroad) covers you for care during your stays in France (and reimburses based on French rates), while the local prepaga covers your daily care in Paraguay at a lower cost.

Option 4: Pay-as-you-go

Some healthy expatriates, especially younger ones, choose not to take out insurance and pay directly for each consultation and examination. Given the prices in Paraguay, this strategy can be economical—as long as there are no unforeseen hospitalizations or major surgeries. This is a gamble that can be costly in the event of a serious problem. We strongly advise against it, especially for expatriates over 50.

Dental care in Paraguay: an excellent surprise

This is an area where Paraguay excels in terms of value for money. Dental care is not only affordable but of very good quality, thanks to well-trained dentists and modern equipment:

• Scaling: 30 to 50 USD
• Filling: 30 to 60 USD
• Ceramic crown: 200 to 400 USD
• Dental implant: 600 to 1,200 USD
• Teeth whitening: 150 to 300 USD
• Full orthodontic treatment: 1,500 to 3,000 USD

In France, a dental implant costs between €1,500 and €3,000, and a ceramic crown between €500 and €1,200. Many expatriates take advantage of their move to Paraguay to receive dental care they postponed in Europe due to the cost.

Pharmacies and medicines

Easy and affordable access

Pharmacies are ubiquitous in Paraguay—in Asunción, you'll find them on every street corner. The main chains (Farmacenter, Point, Catedral) are open 7 days a week, and some operate 24/7. Medication prices are generally 30 to 70% cheaper than in Europe, and many common medications are available without a prescription.

Availability of medicines

Generic drugs are widely available and of good quality. International brand-name drugs (Pfizer, Bayer, Sanofi, etc.) are also present, often at lower prices than European rates. For very specific treatments or rare molecules, it may be necessary to order in advance or to stock up during trips to Brazil (where the pharmaceutical industry is highly developed) or Europe.

Medical emergencies: what to do in case of a serious problem?

Private emergency services

The main private clinics in Asunción have 24-hour emergency services with qualified medical teams and immediate access to imaging equipment. Sanatorio Migone, Hospital Italiano, and Centro Médico La Costa are the references for emergencies for expatriates.

Private ambulances

Private ambulance services (UCM, SEME) offer monthly subscriptions (20 to 50 USD/month) that include emergency transport and initial medical care at home. This is a very popular service in Paraguay and one we recommend to all expatriates, especially retirees. In an emergency, you call, and a equipped ambulance arrives in 10 to 20 minutes with a doctor on board.

Medical evacuation

For the most serious cases requiring highly specialized care not available in Paraguay, medical evacuation to São Paulo (Brazil) or Buenos Aires (Argentina)—two metropolises with world-class hospitals—is possible within a few hours' flight. International health insurance usually includes this coverage. This is an additional security to consider when choosing your insurance.

Practical advice for expatriates

Assemble your medical team upon arrival

Don't wait until you're sick to look for a doctor. From your first few weeks in Paraguay, identify a trusted general practitioner, a dentist, and any specialists you need regularly. Ask other expatriates for recommendations—word-of-mouth is the best guide in Paraguay.

Learn basic medical Spanish vocabulary

Even if some doctors speak English, communication is primarily in Spanish. Knowing basic medical terms (pain, fever, allergy, medication, prescription) will facilitate your consultations and avoid misunderstandings.

Keep your medical record

Bring with you a complete copy of your medical record from Europe: recent analyses, imaging, current prescriptions, vaccination history, and known allergies. This will allow your new doctors in Paraguay to take over with full knowledge of your history.

Maintain a connection with your tax residence

If you benefit from Paraguayan tax residency, remember to keep the invoices for your local medical care. They provide additional proof of your life in Paraguay in case of a tax audit by your country of origin.

Conclusion: quality healthcare at an affordable price

The healthcare system in Paraguay is not perfect—the public sector has its limits, and medical care in the provinces remains uneven. But for a French-speaking expatriate living in Asunción and covered by good private insurance, the standard of care is entirely satisfactory, wait times are short, doctors are competent, and prices are a fraction of those charged in Europe.

Health should not be a barrier to your expatriation project in Paraguay. With the right preparation—choosing insurance, identifying reference establishments, building a trusted medical network—you can receive serene and affordable medical care in your new country.

Do you have questions about health coverage in Paraguay? Contact our team for personalized recommendations on insurance and establishments tailored to your profile.