Going to the doctor in Peru

Describe symptoms and navigate private clinics in Lima in Spanish.

Peru's private clinics — Clínica Internacional, Anglo Americana, Ricardo Palma, San Pablo — are fast, modern and affordable for expats. A GP consultation runs S/120–S/300, a specialist S/200–S/500. Most expats skip EsSalud and pay out of pocket or with an EPS supplement.

The whole process runs in Spanish. The dialogues below cover booking, the consultation, and a pharmacy pickup at InkaFarma or MiFarma.

Vocabulary

Spanish	English
EsSalud	public health insurance
EPS	private complementary plan (Pacífico, Rímac)
clínica privada	private clinic
cita médica	doctor's appointment
consulta	consultation
emergencia	ER
médico general / especialista	GP / specialist
me duele…	my … hurts
tengo fiebre / tos / mareos	I have fever / cough / dizziness
alergia a…	allergy to…
receta médica	prescription
botica / farmacia	pharmacy
genérico	generic
cada cuántas horas	every how many hours
descanso médico	doctor's note for work

Real dialogues

Practice both sides out loud.

Booking a clinic appointment by phone

You call Clínica Internacional from Miraflores.

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 brinda su número de documento, por favor?
Could you give me your document number, please?
You
Es el carné de extranjería número siete dos uno tres cuatro.
It's foreign ID number 721,234.
Operador
Tengo cita para hoy a las cinco en la sede de San Borja. ¿Le conviene?
I have an opening today at 5 PM at the San Borja branch. Does that work?
You
Sí, gracias. ¿Llevo algún documento adicional?
Yes, thank you. Should I bring any extra documents?

Describing symptoms to the doctor

Consultation room at Clínica Anglo Americana, San Isidro.

Doctor
Cuénteme, ¿qué le pasa?
Tell me, what's going on?
You
Tengo dolor de estómago y náuseas desde hace dos días.
I've had stomach pain and nausea for two days.
Doctor
¿Ha tenido fiebre?
Have you had a fever?
You
Sí, anoche tuve treinta y ocho.
Yes, last night it was 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 un antibiótico alternativo y algo para las náuseas. ¿Necesita descanso médico?
I'll prescribe an alternative antibiotic and something for the nausea. 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 botica

InkaFarma in Miraflores, picking up the prescription.

You
Buenas, vengo a comprar estos medicamentos. Aquí está la receta.
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
Ochenta y cinco soles.
85 soles.

Peru local tips

Skip EsSalud, pay private

Private clinics in Lima are fast and affordable for expats. A GP visit at Clínica Internacional or Anglo Americana is S/150–S/300 without insurance — same-day appointments are normal.

Bilingual doctors cluster in San Isidro and Miraflores

Clínica Anglo Americana and Clínica Ricardo Palma have many English-speaking specialists. Ask 'el médico habla inglés?' when booking.

Stomach issues are routine here

Most expats get a bout of 'mal de altura' or stomach trouble in week one. Doctors handle it constantly — describe symptoms plainly, no embarrassment needed.

Practice prompts

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

FAQs

Do I need EsSalud as a foreigner in Peru?

Only if you're employed locally (your employer enrolls you). Most expats use private clinics out of pocket or add an EPS plan from Pacífico or Rímac.

Do Peruvian doctors speak English?

Many specialists in San Isidro and Miraflores do — but GPs, nurses and pharmacy staff usually don't. Ask when booking.

How much does a private doctor visit cost in Lima?

GP: S/120–S/300 (~USD $30–80). Specialist: S/200–S/500. Labs and imaging are extra but still cheaper than the US.