Seeing an English-speaking doctor in Brazil
If you are a tourist, expat or business traveller in Brazil and you fall ill or need a prescription, the biggest hurdle is usually language — most local doctors and clinics work in Portuguese. This guide explains your options and how to see an English-speaking doctor quickly, including a same-day online consultation that works anywhere in the country.
Your three options
- Public system (SUS): free emergency care for anyone, but long waits and little English for routine needs.
- Private hospitals and clinics: high quality, some with international-patient services, but expensive and best for serious or in-person care.
- Online consultation (telemedicine): the fastest option for common problems and prescriptions — a video call with a doctor licensed in Brazil who speaks your language, from wherever you are staying.
How an online consultation works
You book and pay online, then have a video call with a Brazilian-licensed doctor. You explain your symptoms in English and receive medical guidance and, when appropriate, a digital prescription valid across Brazil. You do not need a Brazilian ID (CPF) or a local phone number. Book an online consultation here.
When to use online care — and when to go in person
Online care works well for respiratory infections, urinary symptoms, travellers' diarrhoea, allergies, anxiety, minor skin problems and continuing a treatment. For chest pain, difficulty breathing, severe injuries or any life-threatening symptom, call 192 (SAMU) or go to the nearest pronto-socorro immediately.
English-speaking doctors by city
Wherever you are in Brazil, an online consultation reaches you. City guides:
- São Paulo
- Rio de Janeiro
- Foz do Iguaçu
- Florianópolis
- Salvador
- Búzios
- Balneário Camboriú
- Gramado
- Manaus
- Fortaleza
- Porto de Galinhas
- Natal
Common situations for foreigners
- How to see a doctor in Brazil as a foreigner
- How to get a prescription or medicine
- What to do in a medical emergency
- Travel insurance for Brazil
- Medicines allowed in Brazil
- Dengue in Brazil
- Yellow fever and travel to Brazil
Frequently asked questions
Can a foreigner see a doctor online in Brazil?
Yes. Telemedicine is legal in Brazil and a licensed doctor can consult foreign visitors by video, without a CPF or a local phone number.
Can I get a prescription as a tourist?
Yes — when clinically appropriate, the doctor issues a digital prescription valid at pharmacies across Brazil.
What is the emergency number in Brazil?
Dial 192 for SAMU (ambulance). For minor urgent issues, a public UPA (24-hour unit) is often faster than a hospital.
How much does an online consultation cost?
PresençaMed charges one flat price per consultation, shown before you pay, and gives you an invoice you can submit to your travel insurance.