It is generally considered that in Argentina the best standard of healthcare is in the capital, Buenos Aires. Other parts of the country manage adequately but may not have the most up to date equipment in their hospitals and those living remotely may find themselves some distance from the nearest hospital.

There are three systems of healthcare in Argentina:

· Public sector healthcare which is used by around half of the population and offers free care for both inpatients and outpatients in hospitals, though outpatients do have to pay for medicine. Public hospitals are fairly basic in comparison to privately run institutions but staff are highly qualified and well-trained.

· There are a wide range of health plans which are run by trade unions. Contributions are made by both the employer and the employee and covers the cost of care and medication, though if there is a vast difference between the contributions made and treatment costs which needs to be made up by the patient.

· A small percentage of the population will pay for private treatment. A number of the private hospitals run their own healthcare plans which make paying for care easier.

For foreign nationals there are British and German hospitals in Buenos Aires, though many medical professionals in the country will have studied abroad, so for English-speaking expats, finding a doctor or dentist with a good command of English should be a fairly easy task. Your country’s embassy in Buenos Aires may be able to provide lists of medical professionals who speak your language, though they are not usually able to recommend a specific doctor.

It is possible to buy many drugs over the counter at a pharmacy without a prescription and the pharmacist can also advise on medications for a number of standard conditions such as stomach bugs and flu.

To call for emergency medical assistance, the number to dial is 107. Ambulances generally have a driver, a doctor and a nurse on board, though some are staffed by paramedics. Those in the bigger urban areas tend to be public, but other parts of the country have private ambulances which are run on a subscription-style service.

Prior to travel to Argentina there are a number of vaccinations which are advisable. Shots for hepatitis A, hepatitis B, rabies, typhoid, yellow fever and tetanus and measles boosters are recommended, though it should be noted that there are no specific medical certificates required for entry into the country. Diseases such as malaria are common in some parts of the country and there are a number of conditions that can be passed on through contaminated food or water.