SpanishSpeakingPractice🇩🇴 Dominican Republic guide

Going to the doctor in the Dominican Republic

Describe symptoms and navigate private clinics in Santo Domingo or Punta Cana.

Dominican private clinics — CEDIMAT, Hospiten, Centro Médico UCE, Plaza de la Salud — are modern and affordable. A GP visit runs RD$1,500–RD$4,000, a specialist RD$2,500–RD$6,000. Most expats either pay out of pocket or carry an ARS (Humano, Universal, Senasa) for bigger costs.

Caribbean Spanish is fast and drops final s's and r's. The dialogues below cover booking, the consultation, and a Farmax or Carol pharmacy pickup.

Vocabulary

SpanishEnglish
ARSDominican health insurance (Humano, Universal, Senasa)
clínica privadaprivate clinic
cita médicadoctor's appointment
consultaconsultation
emergenciasER
médico general / especialistaGP / specialist
me duele…my … hurts
tengo fiebre / tos / gripeI have fever / cough / flu
alergia a…allergy to…
récipe / recetaprescription (récipe is common in DR)
farmaciapharmacy (Farmax, Carol, GBC)
genéricogeneric
cada cuántas horasevery how many hours
certificado médicodoctor's note
copagocopay

Real dialogues

Practice both sides out loud.

Booking a clinic appointment by phone

You call CEDIMAT from Piantini.

  • You

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

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

  • Operadora

    ¿Me da su número de cédula o pasaporte?

    Can you give me your ID or passport number?

  • You

    Es pasaporte número AB doce treinta y cuatro.

    It's passport number AB1234.

  • Operadora

    Tengo cita hoy a las tres y media. ¿Le sirve?

    I have an opening today at 3:30. Does that work?

  • You

    Sí, gracias. ¿Tengo que llevar algún documento?

    Yes, thanks. Should I bring any documents?

Describing symptoms to the doctor

Consultation at CEDIMAT, Santo Domingo.

  • Doctor

    Dígame, ¿qué le pasa?

    Tell me, what's going on?

  • You

    Tengo dolor de cabeza fuerte y mareos desde ayer.

    I have a strong headache and dizziness since yesterday.

  • Doctor

    ¿Ha tenido fiebre?

    Have you had a fever?

  • You

    Sí, hoy tuve treinta y ocho.

    Yes, today I had 38.

  • 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 recetar otra cosa y pedir un examen de sangre por si acaso es dengue. ¿Necesita certificado médico?

    I'll prescribe something else and order a blood test in case it's dengue. Do you need a doctor's note?

  • You

    Sí, por favor, por dos días. ¿Cada cuántas horas tomo la pastilla?

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

At the farmacia

Farmax Piantini, picking up the récipe.

  • You

    Buenas, vengo a comprar estos medicamentos. Aquí está el récipe.

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

  • Farmacéutico

    ¿Lo prefiere de marca o genérico?

    Brand or generic?

  • You

    Genérico, por favor. ¿Cuánto es en total?

    Generic, please. How much in total?

  • Farmacéutico

    Dos mil ochocientos pesos.

    2,800 pesos.

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Dominican Republic local tips

Dengue is real — get tested if fever + body aches

Doctors in Santo Domingo and the east order dengue tests routinely. Don't refuse the bloodwork — early diagnosis matters.

Bilingual doctors cluster in Piantini and Punta Cana

CEDIMAT, Hospiten and Plaza de la Salud have many English-speaking specialists. Ask 'el doctor habla inglés?' when booking.

ARS is cheap and worth it

An ARS plan from Humano or Universal runs RD$2,500–RD$6,000/month and covers most clinic visits and meds at copay levels.

Practice prompts

  1. 01Book an appointment by phone, giving your passport 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. 04Pick up a récipe at the farmacia, asking for generic and the total cost.

FAQs

Do I need ARS as a foreigner in the DR?

Not legally required for tourists. Residents and workers usually get one through their employer or buy private plans from Humano, Universal or Senasa.

Do Dominican doctors speak English?

Many specialists in Santo Domingo (Piantini) and the tourist zones (Punta Cana, Bávaro) do. GPs and pharmacy staff usually don't. Ask when booking.

How much does a private doctor visit cost in the DR?

GP: RD$1,500–RD$4,000 (~USD $25–70). Specialist: RD$2,500–RD$6,000. Bloodwork and imaging are extra but still affordable.

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