# Argentina > Citation bundle for Argentina on The Treatment Registry. > URL: https://thetreatmentregistry.com/countries/argentina > Bundle URL: https://thetreatmentregistry.com/api/citations/countries/argentina - ISO code: AR - Currency: Argentine Peso - Language: Spanish - Timezone: ART (UTC-3) ## Overview Argentina, officially the Argentine Republic, is a country in the southern cone of South America. It covers an area of 2,780,085 km2 (1,073,397 mi2), making it the second-largest country in South America after Brazil, the fourth-largest country in the Americas, and the eighth-largest country in the world. Argentina shares the bulk of the Southern Cone with Chile to the west, and is also bordered by Bolivia and Paraguay to the north, Brazil to the northeast, Uruguay and the South Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Drake Passage to the south. Argentina is a federal state subdivided into twenty-three provinces, and one autonomous city, which is the federal capital and largest city of the nation, Buenos Aires. The provinces and the capital have their own constitutions, but exist under a federal system. Argentina claims sovereignty over the Falkland Islands, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, the Southern Patagonian Ice Field, and a part of Antarctica. *Reference text adapted from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0.* ## Healthcare system Argentina's health care system is composed of a universal health care system and a private system. The government maintains a system of public medical facilities that are universally accessible to everyone in the country, but formal sector workers are also obligated to participate in one of about 300 labor union-run health insurance schemes, which offer differing levels of coverage. Private medical facilities and health insurance also exist in the country. The Ministry of Health (MSAL), oversees all three subsectors of the health care system and is responsible for setting of regulation, evaluation and collecting statistics. *Reference text adapted from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0.* ## Practical info Care in Argentina is delivered primarily in Spanish, and English and Italian are also used in some medical settings. The national currency is the Argentine peso. The public system of medical facilities is described as universally accessible to everyone in the country, and private facilities and private health insurance also operate; the Ministry of Health (MSAL) oversees all three subsectors of the system. The UK Foreign Office advises travellers to research their destination and arrange appropriate travel insurance covering their itinerary, planned activities and expenses in an emergency, and its health guidance for Argentina includes information about Hantavirus. In a medical emergency dial 107 for an ambulance; the police number is 911 and the fire service is 100. Argentina observes Argentina Time (UTC-3). ## Emergency numbers - **Police:** 911 - **Medical / Ambulance:** 107 - **Fire:** 100 ## Medical malpractice framework Reference page scaffold; editorial sourcing pending. - Patient rights reference: https://www.argentina.gob.ar/salud/derechos-paciente ## FAQs ### Who regulates healthcare in Argentina? The national regulator is the Ministerio de Salud de la Nacion (Ministry of Health, MSAL). It oversees the three subsectors of the healthcare system - the public network, the labour-union-run insurance schemes and the private sector - and is responsible for setting regulation, evaluation and the collection of statistics. The ministry also publishes patient-rights information on its website. ### What number do I call in a medical emergency? Dial 107 for a medical emergency or ambulance in Argentina. The police are reached on 911 and the fire service on 100. These are separate national numbers rather than a single unified emergency line, so it is worth saving all three before you travel, with 107 being the number relevant to a medical incident. ### What language will my treatment be in? Spanish is the language of Argentina and the primary language of care. English and Italian are also used in some medical settings. Patients who do not speak Spanish may wish to ask their chosen facility in advance what language support is available for consultations, consent paperwork and aftercare instructions, since the registry does not hold facility-level information on language provision. ### Can visitors use Argentina's public hospitals? Argentina's public medical facilities are described as universally accessible to everyone in the country. Private medical facilities and private health insurance also operate alongside the public network and the union-run insurance schemes. The registry does not hold sourced detail on what charges, if any, apply to non-resident patients in the public system, so travellers should verify payment arrangements directly with the facility. ### Do I need travel insurance for a medical trip to Argentina? The UK Foreign Office advises travellers to research their destination and take out appropriate travel insurance. Cover should extend to your full itinerary, your planned activities and your expenses in an emergency. Patients travelling for planned treatment should check with their insurer how the policy applies to treatment undertaken abroad and to any complications arising from it. ## Sources - [CIA World Factbook — Argentina](https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/argentina/) — US Central Intelligence Agency (accessed 2026-07-05)