In this guide
San Lorenzo has two large public hospitals close at hand: the Hospital de Clínicas, the teaching hospital of the Universidad Nacional de Asunción in Villa Universitaria, and the Hospital General de San Lorenzo, known locally as Calle'i (Wikipedia (opens in a new tab); Última Hora (opens in a new tab)). For a routine visit, the biggest time-saver is knowing your coverage (public, IPS or private) and the specialty you need, and calling before you set out.
Is it an emergency? Where to go
- Serious emergency (chest pain, trouble breathing, an accident): 141 is the SEME out-of-hospital medical emergency line and 911 is the police (ITU (opens in a new tab)). SEME covers Asunción and Central, although in 2024 part of its ambulance fleet was out of service (Última Hora (opens in a new tab)).
- Hospital General de San Lorenzo (Calle'i): has an emergency department; in January 2022 its director reported 300 to 350 emergency visits a day, with Mondays, Tuesdays and Sundays the busiest (ABC Color (opens in a new tab)). For anything non-urgent, avoid those days if you can.
- Hospital de Clínicas: even during doctors' strikes it keeps emergency care, intensive care, inpatients and paediatrics running; outpatient consultations are what get cancelled and rescheduled, as on 27 and 28 August 2026 (ABC Color (opens in a new tab)).
- With a child: the Hospital Pediátrico Niños de Acosta Ñu is in barrio La Victoria (Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)).
Hospital de Clínicas: what to expect
It is a teaching hospital whose patients praise the staff but face shortages. In April 2025 its CT scanner and mammography unit were out of service and many patients bought antibiotics and supplies outside; imaging was referred to private providers or Calle'i's imaging centre (Última Hora (opens in a new tab)).
- Bring cash or a card in case you have to buy medicines at an outside pharmacy.
- Ask beforehand whether the test you were ordered is being done there that day.
- Vaccination clinic: open Monday to Friday at the outpatient unit (7 a.m. to noon), the UPA building (7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.) and Obstetrics and Gynaecology (8 a.m. to 4 p.m.). Since September 2026 it gives the HPV vaccine to children aged 9 to 14 and to adults up to 45 with a medical order in specific cases (ABC Color (opens in a new tab)).
IPS, prepaid plan or private practice
- IPS (social security): to book, option 1 on the call centre is appointments (Última Hora (opens in a new tab)). IPS runs evening consultations from 7 to 10 p.m. in general and family medicine at some peripheral clinics (ABC Color (opens in a new tab)); ask whether yours is one of them.
- Prepaid plans: check the company is licensed before signing. In 2024 the Superintendencia de Salud shut six prepaid firms in Asunción and Central and removed them from its register (La Nación (opens in a new tab)).
- Private: confirm the consultation fee and whether they take your insurance before you go.
How to choose a doctor or clinic
- Name the specialty up front: general medicine, paediatrics, gynaecology, dentistry.
- Ask how they work: appointment or first-come, first-served, and what time numbers are handed out.
- Bring everything: ID, insurance card, previous results and a list of your medicines. Care is mostly in Spanish, so a written summary helps.
- Antibiotics: sold only with a prescription valid for five days (La Nación (opens in a new tab)). Get the full prescription before you leave.
Getting there without losing the morning
Around 850,000 people move in and out of San Lorenzo every day (Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)), and the bus stops on Mcal. López and Mcal. Estigarribia by the UNA are among the most crowded in the metro area (ABC Color (opens in a new tab)). From Asunción, the E1 electric bus runs along Route PY02 (Mcal. Estigarribia) and Avenida del Agrónomo into San Lorenzo, from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m., for G. 3,400 (La Nación (opens in a new tab)). Leave early: many services hand out numbers first thing.
FAQ
Where is emergency care in San Lorenzo?
Both the Hospital General de San Lorenzo (Calle'i) and the Hospital de Clínicas have emergency departments. Clínicas keeps emergency care open even during doctors' strikes.
What happens to my Clínicas appointment during a strike?
During the August 2026 strike days, emergency, intensive care, inpatients and paediatrics kept running and outpatient consultations were rescheduled. Call before you go.
Where can children be seen in San Lorenzo?
The Hospital Pediátrico Niños de Acosta Ñu is in barrio La Victoria. Clínicas also keeps paediatrics running on strike days.
What number do I call in a medical emergency?
141 is the SEME medical emergency line and 911 is the police.
