Health Care in Rio - vaccine shots and other treatment needs

Hello ivant,

If you read my posting "A Gringo's Survival Guide to Brazil" you will find out most all of the information you're going to need, especially regarding a CPF and Carteira de Trabalho which you're going to need.

You can get vaccinations at certain Postos de Saúde (Health Posts), you may have to ask at the one nearest you where the vaccinations are given because it's not all that do it. Generally most vaccinations are free of charge.

Public Hospitals (and usually those teaching hospitals associated with universities) offer free treatment even to foreigners. In most cases you'll only need your passport as ID. Private hospitals and private physicians are expensive, so be prepared. Public hospital Emergency Ward treatments or treatment at UPAs (Unidade de Pronto Atendimento)is usually reasonably good. If it's not something of an emergency nature, you'll be lucky to get a five minute consult with a physician who'll barely be able to diagnose your problem and just give you some medication to relieve pain or treat OBVIOUS symptoms.

I would highly recommend that you look into the purchase of Travel Health Insurance coverage before you leave home. It won't be anywhere near as expensive as being hit with a whopping hospital bill if something goes wrong here in Brazil.

  Cheers, 
  William James Woodward – Brazil Animator, Expat-blog Team