Mexico City Emergency Numbers: Police, Ambulance (2026)

What should you know about healthcare and emergencies in Mexico City?

Emergency number

911

Police: 060. Ambulance: 065.

Updated July 2026 · Sources cited: takviewer.com, mexicorelocationguide.com

Good to know

Good to Know

Save 911 in your phone before you need it — it is the single number to call for police, fire, or medical emergencies anywhere in Mexico City.
If you don't speak Spanish, explicitly ask the 911 operator for an English-speaking operator; response quality is generally good in Mexico City compared to more rural areas.
Foreign visitors and short-term residents are typically billed for ambulance and hospital care upfront, so having travel or health insurance sorted before an emergency matters.
Mexico City is seismically active — if you feel or hear the earthquake alert (a distinctive siren tone broadcast citywide), you may have only seconds to tens of seconds to move to a safe spot before shaking starts.
The Green Angels (078) are useful for roadside/travel-related issues and speak English, but they are not a substitute for 911 in a life-threatening emergency.
Older numbers like 060, 065, 066, and 068 are largely legacy and inconsistently staffed now — treat 911 as the default and don't rely on these alternates.
Private hospitals (ABC, Hospital Español) are the go-to choice for most nomads and expats because of shorter waits, English-speaking staff, and modern equipment — but they require a cash or credit-card deposit before treatment, even in emergencies, so travel insurance or an emergency fund matters.
Public hospitals (IMSS Siglo XXI, Hospital General de México) will stabilize any emergency regardless of insurance status, but expect much longer waits and less English support.
For a true emergency, proximity matters more than prestige — go to the nearest capable ER (ABC Observatorio or Hospital Español if you're in Roma/Condesa/Polanco) rather than crossing town in traffic to a 'better' hospital further out like Santa Fe or Tlalpan.
Mexico does not formally rank hospitals by U.S.-style trauma levels, so 'trauma center' status here is more about reputation and referral patterns than an official government classification.

Official Safety Apps

App CDMX
Platforms
Android and iOS
Publisher
Mexico City Government (ADIP)
Description
The official Mexico City government app. Includes a panic/alert button that notifies C5 to dispatch police, paramedics, or traffic support, plus LOCATEL chat for non-emergency questions and a map of free public WiFi hotspots.
SASMEX Public Earthquake Alert Receivers / Alerta Sísmica Broadcasts
Platforms
City-wide public loudspeaker network; also referenced on social media as AlertaSísmica SASMEX
Publisher
CIRES (Centro de Instrumentación y Registro Sísmico)
Description
Mexico City sits within the Mexican Seismic Alert System (SASMEX) coverage area, which can provide up to roughly 60 seconds of warning before shaking arrives; alerts are broadcast via public loudspeakers across the city, official social channels, and dedicated receivers, and many phones/apps relay the same warning tone.

Legacy Backup Numbers

Ambulance / Red Cross (Cruz Roja)
Number
065
Fire (Older Number, May Still Connect in Some Areas)
Number
068
Police (Older Number, May Still Connect in Some Areas)
Number
060
General Emergency (pre-911 Nationwide Number)
Number
066
Civil Protection (Earthquakes, Floods, Fires, Gas Leaks)
Number
(55) 5683 2222

Hospitals

Trauma Level System Note: Mexico does not use the U.S.-style Level I-IV trauma center classification system, so no hospital in Mexico City carries an official 'trauma level' designation. The facilities below are the ones most consistently recommended for serious trauma/emergency care by international-patient programs and government/expat health guides.

Facilities

Centro Médico ABC (ABC Medical Center) – Campus Observatorio
Type
Private
Hours
Emergency Department open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year
Address
Sur 136 No. 116, Col. Las Américas, Álvaro Obregón, 01120, Ciudad de México
Trauma Level
No official designation; widely regarded as one of the two top-tier private trauma/emergency referral hospitals in the city, Joint Commission International (JCI) accredited
Notes
One of two campuses of ABC Medical Center; has a formal Triage system and English-speaking international patient support.
Centro Médico ABC (ABC Medical Center) – Campus Santa Fe
Type
Private
Hours
Emergency Department open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year
Address
Av. Carlos Graef Fernández 154, Col. Santa Fe, Cuajimalpa, 05300, Ciudad de México
Trauma Level
No official designation; same tier of care as the Observatorio campus, JCI accredited
Notes
Located in the Santa Fe business district, further from Roma/Condesa/Polanco than the Observatorio campus — factor in traffic time for a real emergency.
Hospital Español De México
Type
Private
Hours
24/7 emergency services (general standard for major private hospitals in the city)
Address
Ejército Nacional Mexicano 613, Col. Granada, Miguel Hidalgo, 11520, Ciudad de México
Trauma Level
No official designation; large full-service private hospital with nearly 500 beds
Notes
Located in Polanco, one of the most nomad/expat-relevant neighborhoods; long-established hospital dating to 1842.
IMSS Centro Médico Nacional Siglo XXI
Type
Public (IMSS)
Hours
Public hospital emergency services generally operate 24/7, though with much longer wait times than private facilities
Address
Located next to the Centro Médico metro station, Cuauhtémoc/Roma Sur area, Ciudad de México
Trauma Level
No official designation; it is one of Mexico's largest and most historically significant referral hospitals for complex and specialized cases
Notes
Only usable free-of-charge by those enrolled in IMSS (employed workers or residents who've registered); otherwise treated as any public ER, which will still stabilize emergencies but expect long waits and limited English.
Hospital General De México "Dr. Eduardo Liceaga"
Type
Public
Hours
24/7 emergency department (standard for major public hospitals)
Address
Dr. Balmis 148, Col. Doctores, Cuauhtémoc, 06720, Ciudad de México
Trauma Level
No official designation; it is one of Mexico's principal public general and trauma-receiving hospitals
Notes
Free/low-cost public option but expect long emergency room wait times, limited English, and fewer amenities than private hospitals.

Universal Number

Number: 911
Free To Call: Yes
Description: Mexico's nationwide emergency number for police, fire, and medical emergencies, in place since 2016. In Mexico City the call is answered locally and the operator automatically receives the caller's location.
Language Note: Some operators may be Spanish-only; travelers can request an English-speaking operator, and bilingual assistance is more likely in a large, internationally visited city like Mexico City.

Tourist Assistance

Number: 078
Name: Ángeles Verdes (Green Angels)
Description: A service funded by Mexico's Secretary of Tourism to assist foreign visitors, offering English-speaking operators for roadside assistance, towing, mechanical support, and basic medical emergency aid.
Coverage Note: Coverage hours and availability are more limited than the main 911 system and may not be as reliable at night.

Non Emergency Helpline

Number: 56 58 11 11 (Mexico City public service line)
Name: LOCATEL
Hours: 24-hour hotline for general assistance; the tourist-focused assistance line within this service typically operates weekdays, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Description: Mexico City's long-running public information and help line for non-emergency, non-life-threatening situations, also reachable through a chat feature in the official city app.

Local Dispatch Authority

Name: C5 (Centro de Comando, Control, Cómputo, Comunicaciones y Contacto Ciudadano)
Description: Mexico City's command-and-control center that receives 911 calls and dispatches police, paramedics, or traffic control support for the city.

Healthcare

Overview: Mexico City has modern private healthcare facilities with internationally trained physicians and English-speaking staff at major hospitals. Public IMSS (Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social) is available to legal residents at low cost.

IMSS Public System

Coverage: Primary care, hospitalization, surgery, maternity, most prescription medications. Assignment to specific clinic and doctor—no choice.
Tradeoffs: Low cost but long wait times, medication shortages, limited access to specialists, shared hospital rooms typical
Eligibility: Temporary or permanent legal residents only
Annual Cost 50to59: MX$756

Private Hospital Setup

Availability: Major private hospitals with international patient desks and modern facilities throughout the city
Specialist Consultation Cost: MX$2,100
General Practitioner Visit Cost: MX$1,400
Notes: Private care is significantly cheaper than the US. Many doctors available outside standard hours via WhatsApp. Payment typically required upfront unless hospital has prior insurance agreement.

Private Health Insurance

Annual Cost Range MXN: MXN 9,070–21,435
Annual Cost Range USD: $520–$1,230 USD depending on age
Premium Increases 2026: Year-on-year increases of 20–40% reported for 2026, driven by rising hospital tariffs and peso volatility
Age Note: Cheapest for young, most expensive over 60. Paid as flat annual fee in advance.

Emergency Hospitalization

Deposit Range: MXN 5,000–100,000+ depending on facility tier
Deposit Range USD: $285–$5,700 USD at top-tier hospitals in Mexico City
Payment Note: Without insurance or cash, non-emergency care may be refused

Pharmacies

Overview: Pharmacies widely available throughout Mexico City. Many medications available over-the-counter (OTC) without prescription, including antibiotics and certain pain/anti-inflammatory drugs. Prices significantly lower than the US.
Chain Vs Independent: Chain pharmacies offer standardized pricing and wider inventory; independent pharmacies may have lower prices but variable quality and sourcing
Price Comparison To US: Medications typically 40% cheaper than US online prices; generics often 50–75% less; some brand-name drugs available at dramatic discounts
Prescription Requirements: Only three classes require Mexican doctor prescription: psychotropics (sedatives, stimulants), opiates, and antibiotics

Example Medications

Insulin Monthly: MX$870
Common Antibiotics: Highly affordable and OTC; substantial savings vs US
Blood Pressure Medications: Available at significantly lower monthly costs than elsewhere

Major Pharmacy Chains

Farmacias Guadalajara (known for steep discounts)
Farmacias Similares
Farmacia del Doctor
Farmacia de Ahorro

In Pharmacy Consultation

Consultation Cost: MX$50
Description: Many pharmacies have in-house physicians (consultorios) who can write prescriptions on-the-spot for OTC use

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.

More About Mexico City

Data last updated July 2026 · Verify anything important.

Emergencies in Mexico City

What should you know about healthcare and emergencies in Mexico City?

Good to know

Good to Know

Official Safety Apps

App CDMX

SASMEX Public Earthquake Alert Receivers / Alerta Sísmica Broadcasts

Legacy Backup Numbers

Ambulance / Red Cross (Cruz Roja)

Fire (Older Number, May Still Connect in Some Areas)

Police (Older Number, May Still Connect in Some Areas)

General Emergency (pre-911 Nationwide Number)

Civil Protection (Earthquakes, Floods, Fires, Gas Leaks)