What should you know about healthcare and emergencies in Buenos Aires?
Emergency number
911
Police: 101. Ambulance: 107.
Updated July 2026 · Sources cited: landingpadba.com, expatarrivals.com
Good to know
Good to Know
- 911 is the single number to remember for any emergency in Buenos Aires — it covers police, fire, and ambulance, and is free to call even without a working SIM plan.
- Regular 911/101/107 operators mostly speak Spanish; if your Spanish is limited, the Tourist Police (Comisaría del Turista, Av. Corrientes 436) is a better first call for non-emergency issues like theft or lost documents since staff there are more likely to speak English.
- There isn't one single official national safety app to download — the closest thing is the city's 'Buenos Aires Te Cuida' QR-based resource, which links you to the tourist police chat, the 911 line, and the online crime-report form.
- For an actual crime report (denuncia) needed for insurance or an embassy, you'll typically still need to go to a police station (comisaría) or use the CABA prosecutor's office (Ministerio Público Fiscal) online portal.
- Save the direct lines (101 police, 100 fire, 107 ambulance) as backups in case 911 lines are congested.
- For any life-threatening emergency in Buenos Aires, call 107 (SAME public ambulance/medical emergency line) or 911; a Spanish speaker will help things move faster.
- Argentina's healthcare system does not use the US-style Level I–IV trauma center rating system, so no hospital here is formally 'trauma-level certified' — the distinction that matters locally is public (free, open to everyone including tourists, but slower and with less English) versus private (faster, better resourced, but you'll be asked to pay upfront if you lack local insurance or an accepted international policy).
- Public hospital emergency care is free to everyone regardless of nationality, but expect long wait times and very limited English-speaking staff.
- At private hospitals/sanatorios, uninsured patients are generally expected to pay for services before leaving; get an itemized receipt for travel-insurance reimbursement.
- If you go the private route, Hospital Italiano (Almagro), Hospital Alemán (Recoleta) and Sanatorio Otamendi are the names most frequently recommended to expats and long-stay travelers.
- Take a taxi/rideshare directly to the hospital entrance in an emergency rather than navigating on foot, especially at night around the Hospital Británico main campus near Constitución/Barracas.
Tourist Police
- Name
- Comisaría del Turista / Policía de la Ciudad Tourist Police (Buenos Aires Te Cuida program)
- Hours
- 24 hours
- Address
- Av. Corrientes 436, Buenos Aires (a second location is also cited at Macacha Güemes 151)
- Services
- Assists with missing persons, lost items, theft/crime victim support, filing reports, and connecting tourists with their embassy or consulate.
- Languages
- Staff reportedly include speakers of English, Portuguese, French, Italian, and Japanese/Russian depending on the source consulted
Phone Numbers Reported
- +54 9 11 5050 9260
- +54 9 11 5050 3293
- 0800-999-5000
Direct Service Lines
Police
- Number
- 101
- Notes
- Direct line to law enforcement for a broad range of incidents.
Fire Department (Bomberos)
- Number
- 100
- Notes
- For fires, explosions, and hazardous incidents.
Ambulance / Emergency Medical (SAME - Sistema De Atención Médica De Emergencias)
- Number
- 107
- Notes
- Argentina's government-run ambulance service; operates directly in the City of Buenos Aires (and also Córdoba, Tierra del Fuego, and Jujuy).
Civil Defence (Earthquakes, Floods, Chemical Incidents)
- Number
- 103
- Notes
- Coordinates disaster response.
Coast Guard / Maritime & River Emergencies
- Number
- 106
- Notes
- For water-related incidents near the Río de la Plata or other waterways.
Gender-based Violence Line (Línea 144)
- Number
- 144
- Notes
- Free, national, operates 24/7; also reachable via phone, WhatsApp, and email through the Línea 144 app.
Family and Sexual Violence Support (Línea 137)
- Number
- 137
- Notes
- 24/7 support and victim accompaniment; also reachable via WhatsApp at 11-3133-1000.
Human Trafficking / Exploitation Reporting (Línea 145)
- Number
- 145
- Notes
- Free, national, 24/7, anonymous reports accepted.
Reporting Sexual Exploitation of Children/adolescents
- Number
- 102
- Notes
- Free line run by the city government's Council for the Rights of Children and Adolescents.
Ministerio Público Fiscal CABA Crime-reporting Line
- Number
- 0800-33-FISCAL (347225)
- Notes
- Free 24-hour phone line for reporting crimes in the City of Buenos Aires; an online complaint portal is also available.
Hospitals
Hospital Italiano De Buenos Aires — Sede Almagro (Central)
- Phone
- (011) 4959-0200 (emergencies), (011) 4959-0300 (general switchboard)
- Type
- private
- Hours
- Emergency department (guardia) open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year
- Address
- Tte. Gral. Juan Domingo Perón 4190, C1199ABB, CABA
- Neighborhood
- Almagro
- Trauma Designation
- No formal US-style trauma-level rating exists in Argentina; this is one of the country's largest, highest-complexity private teaching hospitals with full trauma, surgical and ICU capability.
- Notes
- One of the most-recommended private hospitals for expats and travelers; has its own health plan (Plan de Salud) for walk-in/insured patients.
Hospital Alemán
- Phone
- Not confirmed at the time of research — call switchboard via hospital website
- Type
- private
- Hours
- Emergency room operates 24/7 (guardia); general outpatient hours vary by specialty
- Address
- Av. Pueyrredón 1640, CABA
- Neighborhood
- Recoleta / Barrio Norte
- Trauma Designation
- No formal trauma-level rating; long-established, well-equipped private general hospital with emergency and trauma capability.
- Notes
- Located a few blocks from Pueyrredón subway station; popular with long-term expats for its obra social / insurance plans.
Hospital Británico
- Phone
- 54-11-4309-6400
- Type
- private
- Hours
- Emergency department reported to operate with full 24-hour emergency facilities
- Address
- Perdriel 74, CABA
- Neighborhood
- Barracas / border with Constitución (main campus); also a downtown site near Av. Santa Fe & 9 de Julio
- Trauma Designation
- No formal trauma-level rating; described as offering complete emergency care facilities.
- Notes
- The Perdriel campus sits at the edge of a less touristy, lower-safety part of town (Constitución/Barracas border) — worth taking a radio taxi/rideshare directly to the door rather than walking from the subte at night.
Sanatorio (Clínica) Otamendi
- Phone
- Not confirmed at the time of research — call switchboard via hospital website
- Type
- private
- Hours
- Medical clinic (Clínica Médica): 24-hour care. Traumatology: 24-hour care.
- Address
- Address not fully confirmed at the time of research; ENT department is at Paraguay 2303, 2nd floor
- Neighborhood
- Recoleta / Almagro border area
- Trauma Designation
- No formal trauma-level rating; explicitly advertises round-the-clock traumatology and emergency medicine coverage.
- Notes
- Emergency (guardia) area is meant for acute, low-to-moderate complexity walk-ins; scheduled outpatient issues are redirected to regular appointments.
Hospital General De Agudos Dr. Juan A. Fernández
- Phone
- Not confirmed at the time of research
- Type
- public
- Hours
- Emergency department open 24/7, as is standard for CABA public hospitals
- Address
- Cerviño 3356, CABA
- Neighborhood
- Palermo
- Trauma Designation
- No formal trauma-level rating; functions as a general public hospital with full emergency care facilities.
- Notes
- Public and free at point of care, including for tourists and foreigners, but expect long waits and little English spoken.
Healthcare
- System Overview
- Argentina offers both public (free for residents and visitors) and private healthcare options. Private healthcare is widely used by expats for shorter wait times and English-speaking doctors.
- Emergency Contact
- 107 (free from any phone), or 0800-999-5000 for tourists
- Public Healthcare
- Free emergency care and inpatient treatment available to residents and visitors; outpatient treatment free but patients pay for prescriptions. Long wait times common.
Consultation Costs
- Specialist Consultation
- ARS 600
- General Practitioner Initial Consultation
- ARS 500
- Note
- Costs vary by facility and provider; rates quoted are typical private sector ranges. Many doctors accept cash and may adjust fees based on income.
Private Hospitals And Clinics
Swiss Medical
- Characteristics
- High-quality care, international standard facilities, most staff speak English
Neighborhoods
- Barrio Norte/Palermo border
- Downtown
Hospital Alemán
- Characteristics
- High-quality care, international standard facilities, most staff speak English
Neighborhoods
- Barrio Norte
Hospital Italiano
- Characteristics
- Reliable, affiliated with obra social options
Neighborhoods
- Almagro
Hospital Británico
- Characteristics
- Well-established, offers own health plans
Neighborhoods
- Downtown
- Constitución/Barracas
Private Health Insurance Monthly Cost
- Basic Plan Range Low
- ARS 300
- Basic Plan Range High
- ARS 900
- Note
- Major hospitals like Swiss Medical and Hospital Alemán offer basic plans approximately USD $75–90/month (insurance plans known as 'prepagas'). Plans include 40% pharmacy discounts and access to networks of specialists.
Calling Notes
- No SIM Needed
- 911 can generally be dialled even without an active SIM plan or credit, as long as there is network coverage.
- What To Provide
- Exact street name, nearest cross-street, building number and floor, and (for road incidents) direction of travel.
- Language Barrier
- Standard 911/101/107/100 operators mostly speak Spanish only, with at best basic English; the Tourist Police line is the better option for non-Spanish speakers.
Universal Emergency Number
- Number
- 911
- Description
- Argentina's national emergency number, covering police, fire, and medical dispatch. In Buenos Aires, dialling 911 routes to the police call centre, which forwards the call to the appropriate service. It is free to call, including from phones with no credit or SIM.
Official Safety Resources Apps
- Official Reporting Portal
- Ministerio Público Fiscal CABA online complaint portal (for filing a denuncia digitally in the City of Buenos Aires)
- Dedicated National Emergency App
- No
- Notes
- Argentina does not operate a unified, GPS-linked national emergency app comparable to systems in some other countries; phone lines remain the primary contact method. The City of Buenos Aires runs 'Buenos Aires Te Cuida,' a QR-code-based safety resource aimed at tourists and expats that links to the Tourist Police chat function, the 911 line, and the online crime-reporting portal.
Pharmacies
- Tips
- Compare prices between pharmacies; generic alternatives offer substantial savings. Ask for 'planes' (treatment plans) for regular medications to access multi-purchase discounts. Pharmacies with 'SOCIAL' in name typically offer discounts for cash payments.
- Hours
- Most pharmacies open 8 AM–9 PM; 24-hour 'farmacias de turno' available in major neighborhoods (Palermo, Recoleta, San Telmo, Belgrano)
- Availability
- Abundant throughout Buenos Aires; identified by red cross or green-and-white cross symbols. Both independent and chain pharmacies available. Major chains include Farmacity, Dr. Ahorro, Farmacias del Pueblo, Vantage Farma.
- Cost Example
- ARS 68
2017 baseline; current prices higher due to inflation
- Payment Methods
- Cash preferred; many pharmacies accept cards. Private health plans (prepagas) provide access to preferred pharmacy networks with discounted rates.
- Pricing Overview
- Generally cheaper than USA for prescription medications; brand-name drugs more expensive than generics. Over-the-counter drugs approximately same price as USA. Public health system covers 30% of chronic medication costs and 60% of standard prescriptions for beneficiaries.
- Prescription Requirements
- Most prescription medicines require a valid local prescription. As of January 2025, all prescriptions must be issued in electronic form. Many common medications available over-the-counter without prescription.
AI-generated estimateData refreshed July 2026
Sources cited for this category
These are the sources cited in this emergencies research for this city. Individual figures may not each trace to one of them.
- 1.landingpadba.com
- 2.expatarrivals.com
- 3.internationalliving.com
- 4.expatassure.com
- 5.expatinfodesk.com
- 6.expatriatehealthcare.com
- 7.nomadflag.com
- 8.expatfinancial.com
- 9.justlanded.com
- 10.menteargentina.com
- 11.argentinaexpat.com
- 12.expatfocus.com
- 13.statista.com
- 14.goldenharbors.com
- 15.buenosairesherald.com
- 16.liveandinvestoverseas.com
- 17.study.buenosaires.gob.ar
- 18.esim.holafly.com
- 19.companyformationargentina.com
- 20.abrotherabroad.com
- 21.globalbanks.com
- 22.onesafe.io
- 23.tradingeconomics.com
- 24.usd.currencyrate.today
More About Buenos Aires
Data last updated July 2026 · Verify anything important.