< Back Are there any vaccinations I should get or other health precautions to take as I prepare for my move to your city? Before I get sick, what should I know about seeking medical care in your city as an expat? What is the word for "doctor" in the local language? What is the best way to locate a suitable health care provider? Do expats in the area tend to leave the city/area/country to seek medical care? If so, why and where do they go? What is the number to call to summon help in an emergency? List medical/fire/police. What do I do if there's an emergency in the middle of the night—or at another time when my normal doctor/clinic is unavailable? How will I recognize a pharmacy? What is it called in the local language? Is the water safe to drink? Are there any vaccinations I should get or other health precautions to take as I prepare for my move to your city? It is essential to have health insurance in Brazil, as hospital and medical fees are high. For most regions of the country you don't need to worry about vaccinations; however, yellow fever shots are necessary if you plan to visit the following states: Acre, Amazonas, Goias, Maranhao, Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul, Para, Rondonia, Amapá and Roraima. For these regions, vaccination against typhoid, polio and malaria is also recommended. ↑ Top Before I get sick, what should I know about seeking medical care in your city as an expat? You will want to have health insurance in Brazil because medical fees are incredibly high. Anyone without private insurance will have to go to public hospitals and wait for treatment. ↑ Top What is the word for "doctor" in the local language? The Portuguese word for doctor is "médico." ↑ Top What is the best way to locate a suitable health care provider? Through the hospitals: Hospital Albert Einstein Av. Alberto Einstein, 627 portão 2 - Morumbi Hospital Alemão Oswaldo Cruz Rua João Julião, 331 - Paraíso Hospital Beneficiencia Portuguesa Santo André Av. Portugal, 530, Centro, Santo André, SP, 09041-321 Hospital de Clínicas R Erva Andorinha, 123, JD Helena, São Paulo, SP, 08090470 Hospital do Coração Rua. Desembargador Eliseu Guilhuerme, 123 - Paraíso Hospital e Maternidade São Luis Av. Santo Amaro, 734 - Moema Hospital Nossa Senhora de Lourdes Rua Perobas, 344 - Jabaquara Hospital Nove de Julho Rua Peixoto Gomide, 625 - Jardim Paulista ↑ Top Do expats in the area tend to leave the city/area/country to seek medical care? If so, why and where do they go? No. Brazil offers excellent medical care, particularly if you use the private hospitals. ↑ Top What is the number to call to summon help in an emergency? List medical/fire/police. Call 192 to summon an ambulance; 193 for the fire brigade and 190 for the police. ↑ Top What do I do if there's an emergency in the middle of the night—or at another time when my normal doctor/clinic is unavailable? Go to the emergency center at your local hospital. Ambulances operate all night. ↑ Top How will I recognize a pharmacy? What is it called in the local language? The local word for pharmacy is "farmácia." ↑ Top Is the water safe to drink? No. You should avoid drinking tap water, even in the big cities. It is recommended that you drink bottled water only. ↑ Top IMPORTANT NOTE: Crown Relocations has made every effort to present accurate information. However, regulations, rates and other variables are subject to change and Crown Relocations cannot accept responsibility for the errors that might result. Should you have any questions or need additional information, please contact your local Crown representative.