Health Care
There is no reciprocal health agreement with the UK or USA. Full insurance is strongly recommended as medical costs are high. The standard of medical care is generally very good in major towns and cities. English-speaking medical staff are found mainly in São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro.
Public health care services in Brazil are free of charge, but may only be used by foreign tourists in the event of an emergency. The main hospital in São Paulo is the Hospital das Clínicas, while in Rio the Hospital Copa D’Or and the Hospital Samaritano are both well regarded. In the event of a medical emergency, call 192 for an ambulance.
Note
* Malaria risk exists throughout the year at altitudes below 900m (2,953ft) in Acre, Amapá, Amazonas, Maranhão (western part), Mato Grosso (northern part), Pará (except Belém City), Rondônia, Roraima and Tocantins states, as well as some larger cities, such as on the periphery of Pôrto Velho, Boa Vista, Macapá, Manaus, Santerém, Rio Branco and Maraba.
** A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required from all travellers over nine months old arriving within from infected regions. Vaccination is strongly recommended for those intending to visit some rural areas. |
