The standard of emergency medicine and ambulance services has rapidly improved over the last few years - at least in Lima, cities in the provinces unfortunately lag behind. Most private ambulance services have modern vehicles, are prepared for many emergencies and equipped to international standards including ventilators and defibrillators.

Private ambulance services usually offer different plans including services for all sorts of emergencies and medical care, but also phone /online or at home consultations, a patient transfer service and more. However, if you aren't a member of any private ambulance service or haven't signed up to one of their plans, you can still call them and you are charged for their service or visit.

Be aware that next to below recommended private ambulance services, numerous private hospitals and health insurance companies operate their own ambulance or emergency vehicles, but exclusively for those insured with them.

If you are looking for a more economical option, check with the municipality you are staying or living in. Some as well have their own ambulance vehicles which at least in the better districts in Peruvian cities are well equipped and often free of charge. And last but not least, an excellent service with very well equipped units - at least in Lima - provides the voluntary fire brigade (Bomberos Voluntarios del Peru). In case of an accident or any other medical emergency, they respond quickly and provide good first aid. Their service is free of charge, however a donation is appreciated and always welcome.

Lima has a wide network of pharmacies. In case you need one, you find a 'botica' or 'farmacia' literally around every corner. The bigger pharmacies are generally well sorted and offer quite a wide variety of medicine and drugstore articles. Many drugs available elsewhere only with a prescription can very often be bought over the counter, mainly at reasonable prices. Some bigger pharmacies in Lima offer a 24 hours delivery service. Just order by phone and a motorbike courier delivers to your doorstep.

If you need special medication or one specific drug, we would highly recommend taking it with you! At least enough until you find an alternative here – Consult your doctor for substitutes in advance. As you can find a pharmacy nearly everywhere while strolling through town, we won't bother you with several pages long listing of every single pharmacy. To keep things simple, find below only the names, phone numbers and websites of some bigger pharmacies offering deliveries. There are many more equally good pharmacies around.

Peru has one of the largest bio diversities of the world. It is home to around 25,000 plant species, 10% of the world total. We believe some 2000 plants in Peru to have medical and pharmacological properties. Already ancient cultures in Peru used medicinal plants and herbs to prevent diseases and heal illnesses. They passed this traditional knowledge of the wide variety of natural products and their use on to modern times.

Today Peru offers a vast selection of natural medicines, nutritional supplements and cosmetics using only natural ingredients, giving you an excellent alternative to mainstream medicine. We can find products in supermarkets, pharmacies, shops specializing in natural medicine and care products and in many centers offering alternative and integrative medicine.

In case you get unexpectedly sick during your stay in Lima and need medical care, there is no reason to panic. Health care in Lima's private clinics is very good and can withstand the comparison with hospitals in the US or Europe. Most private clinics are well-resourced with state-of-the-art equipment and internationally used standard medicines. In case of an emergency, you find qualified doctors and nurses treating you according to international standards and methods.

Please note that charges for doctors, hospitalization, treatments and surgeries vary heavily. But even those at the top end mostly only charge a fraction of the price you would have to pay for an equivalent private treatment in your home country. Anyhow, even if it is unusual for you, ask for exact fees and charges before you start your treatment to avoid any unpleasant surprises! It is also common practice here to pay any medical treatment or examination in advance! So, don't be surprised if you have to proceed to the cashier first to pay and then get examined or treated.

The clinics listed below are recommended by the foreign embassies in Lima and the international expat community.