So… maybe you have overdone it on the Malbec, or perhaps you’ve eaten a questionable asado, or worse you’ve broken your ankle climbing Aconcagua. Sometimes even the best of us need a bit of medical TLC. In a foreign country, working out just how to get that medical attention can be more of a pain than the actual ailment in question. Here is our guide for how to get medical help while in Mendoza:
1) Farmacia
Your first port of call when you are in pain is the farmacia (pharmacy or chemist in English). They are all over the city and usually open till quite late (but usually close in the siesta, so time your illness well).
As with any normal chemist there is always someone trained in medicine on the staff who can help you with what you need and most drugs are available here – if they tell you that a prescription is required, a nice tip will often solve the problem. But make sure to check your inhibitions at the door – Mendoza’s farmacias are a meeting point for many local oldies. This means that you will have to explain in detail exactly what’s wrong with you in front of Mendoza’s silver society, and probably accept their advice and remedies as well as the pharmacist’s.
The audience participation can be particularly embarrassing if you have a rather personal problem or have forgotten the word for contraceptive and have to resort to explanation. A sort of verbal Charades if you may.
2) Private Clinics
Healthcare here is free, but a lot of people prefer to go private (you’ll see why in point 3). If you have the cash (or insurance), the private clinics are the way forward – they are quicker and more private, however every consultation charges a fee so bring your checkbook. Don’t forget that your passport or ID is sometimes required.
3) Public Hospitals and Clinics
Public healthcare here is of good standard and with some great doctors but, as aforementioned, healthcare in Argentina is free. This means that the hospitals are full with patients of almost every other neighboring country in South America. And lines are long.
If you need emergency medical attention, you will go almost directly to the front of the line, but if your problem is less urgent you need to get to the hospital early to take a ‘turno’ (or number in the line), not unlike public healthcare in the U.S. Most hospitals start issuing turnos at 8am, but don’t come anytime after 8:00 a.m. People start arriving at 6:30 a.m., so to get anywhere decent in the line, you need to get there early too. If you miss your slot, you’ll have to wait until the next day, so wear comfy shoes and don’t forget to bring a book.
Once your turn is up, be prepared to leave your all your inhibitions and modesty in the waiting room. Doctors in Argentina all greet each other and their patients with a kiss, even in the middle of consultations or sometimes treatments. So, don’t be surprised when the nurse walks in, kisses you both on the cheek and has a little chat about her weekend, no matter what’s happening on the operating table… Welcome to Argentina!
Some useful addresses
Pharmacias – They are so ubiquitous it will not take you more than a block or two walking in the city centre to find one. You can usually spot them by the big cross symbol and ‘Pharmacia’ sign.
Private Clinics – One of the most central is Clinica Colon, Av Colon 277, they can help with general medical issues or direct you to a specialist.
Public Hospitals – Hospital Central, Alem 410; Hospital Lagomaggiore, Gordillo.
Emergency number – 107
Useful Spanish:
Ache, pain – dolor
Bite (insect) – picadura
Broken bone – hueso roto
Constipation – estreñimiento
Fever – fiebre calenture
Flu – gripe
Heartburn – acedia
Infection – infección
Injury – herida
Amanda Barnes is a British journalist living in Mendoza with a big bag of painkillers and a tendency to avoid hospitals at all costs.
