SpanishSpeakingPractice🇨🇴 Colombia guide

Going to the doctor in Colombia

Describe symptoms and navigate EPS or prepagada in Spanish.

Colombia's healthcare is fast, modern and affordable — most expats use 'medicina prepagada' (Colsanitas, Sura, Coomeva) which gives same-day appointments with specialists for ~$80–$150 USD/month. Walk-in clinics ('consulta prioritaria') handle the rest.

All of it runs in Spanish. The dialogues below cover a routine prepagada visit and a pharmacy pickup at Cruz Verde or La Rebaja.

Vocabulary

SpanishEnglish
EPSpublic-mandatory health insurance
medicina prepagadaprivate complementary plan (Colsanitas, Sura)
consulta prioritariawalk-in / urgent care
urgenciasER
cita médicadoctor's appointment
médico general / especialistaGP / specialist
me duele…my … hurts
tengo gripa / fiebre / tosI have a cold / fever / cough
me siento malI feel sick
alergia a…allergy to…
fórmula médicaprescription
drogueríapharmacy
genéricogeneric version
cada cuántas horasevery how many hours
incapacidaddoctor's note for work

Real dialogues

Practice both sides out loud.

Booking a prepagada appointment by phone

You call Colsanitas from El Poblado.

  • You

    Buenos días, quisiera agendar una cita con medicina general lo antes posible.

    Good morning, I'd like to schedule a general medicine appointment as soon as possible.

  • Operador

    ¿Me regala su número de documento?

    Could you give me your ID number?

  • You

    Es la cédula de extranjería seis cinco cuatro tres dos uno.

    It's foreign ID 654321.

  • Operador

    Tengo cita hoy a las cuatro en la sede de El Poblado. ¿Le sirve?

    I have an opening today at 4 PM at the El Poblado branch. Does that work?

  • You

    Perfecto, la confirmo. ¿Llevo algún documento adicional?

    Perfect, I confirm. Should I bring any extra documents?

Describing symptoms to the doctor

Consultation room at Colsanitas Poblado.

  • Doctor

    Cuénteme, ¿qué le pasa?

    Tell me, what's going on?

  • You

    Tengo dolor de garganta y fiebre desde hace dos días.

    I've had a sore throat and fever for two days.

  • Doctor

    ¿Le tomaron la temperatura?

    Did they take your temperature?

  • You

    Sí, anoche tuve treinta y ocho y medio.

    Yes, last night it was 38.5.

  • Doctor

    ¿Es alérgico a algún medicamento?

    Are you allergic to any medication?

  • You

    Soy alérgico a la penicilina.

    I'm allergic to penicillin.

  • Doctor

    Le voy a formular un antibiótico distinto y algo para la fiebre. ¿Necesita incapacidad?

    I'll prescribe a different antibiotic and something for the fever. Do you need a work note?

  • You

    Sí, por favor, para dos días. ¿Cada cuántas horas tomo el antibiótico?

    Yes please, for two days. How often do I take the antibiotic?

At the droguería

Cruz Verde in Laureles, picking up the prescription.

  • You

    Buenas, vengo a reclamar estos medicamentos. Aquí está la fórmula.

    Hi, I'm here to pick up these medications. Here's the prescription.

  • Farmaceuta

    ¿Lo quiere de marca o genérico?

    Brand or generic?

  • You

    Genérico, por favor. ¿Cuánto sale en total?

    Generic, please. How much in total?

  • Farmaceuta

    Cuarenta y cinco mil pesos.

    45,000 pesos.

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Colombia local tips

Prepagada is worth it for expats

Plans run $80–$150 USD/month and give you same-day access to specialists across Bogotá, Medellín and Cartagena, mostly bypassing EPS waits.

Bilingual doctors cluster in El Poblado and Chapinero

Clinics like Las Vegas (Medellín) and Country (Bogotá) have many bilingual specialists. Ask: '¿el médico habla inglés?' when booking.

Pharmacies do 'domicilio'

Cruz Verde, La Rebaja and Cafam deliver meds free to most expat neighborhoods. Call or WhatsApp the nearest branch.

Practice prompts

  1. 01Book an appointment by phone, giving your ID number and confirming a time.
  2. 02Describe 3 symptoms with how long you've had them.
  3. 03State an allergy and ask for an alternative medication.
  4. 04Order a prescription at the droguería, asking for generic and the total cost.

FAQs

Do I need EPS as a foreigner in Colombia?

Legally, residents on M or R visas must enroll in EPS (Sura, Sanitas, Compensar). Most expats also add prepagada on top for faster service.

Do Colombian doctors speak English?

Many specialists in El Poblado, Chapinero and Bogotá's Country area do — but GPs and pharmacy staff usually don't. Ask when booking.

How much does a private doctor visit cost?

With prepagada: a copay of $10,000–$30,000 COP. Without: $80,000–$200,000 COP for a private GP, $200,000–$400,000 COP for a specialist.

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