Pharmacies in Villarrica: how to choose for everyday needs

In Villarrica, the easiest way to handle everyday pharmacy needs is to keep two or three saved: one near home, one downtown and one that delivers. Before you go, message them on WhatsApp with the exact name and dose of the medicine and confirm they have it and how late they are open. If you are covered by IPS (Paraguay's social security), first check whether the IPS hospital pharmacy can give it to you.

How to find a pharmacy in Villarrica

Searching "pharmacy near me" or "farmacias en Villarrica" works, but watch out: results also show Villarrica in Chile. Add "Guairá" or "Paraguay" to your search.

• Downtown: the area around the Cathedral and the Palacete Municipal, on General Díaz and Mariscal López, is the easiest reference point (Wikipedia⁠⁠ (opens in a new tab)⁠). If you are running errands in the centre, buy there.
• In your neighbourhood: the city has barrios such as Estación, San Miguel, Santa Librada, Santa Lucía and Lomas Valentinas (Wikipedia⁠⁠ (opens in a new tab)⁠). Save the number of the pharmacy closest to home; that is the one you will use at night.
• Chains or local pharmacies: if you want a specific chain, search its name plus "Villarrica Guairá". Neighbourhood pharmacies sometimes know your history and let you know when an out-of-stock item arrives.
• If you are visiting: Villarrica is about 172 km from Asunción (Wikipedia⁠⁠ (opens in a new tab)⁠). If you take ongoing medication, bring enough for the trip rather than counting on finding it here.

What to ask before you go

• Stock: brand name, active ingredient, dose and form.
• Alternatives: if your prescribed brand is out, ask what they have with the same active ingredient and check with the pharmacist or your doctor.
• Prescription: bring the original for prescription-only medicines.
• Payment and delivery: QR is now the most common electronic payment in Paraguay, 68.1% on the Bancard network (ABC Color⁠⁠ (opens in a new tab)⁠). Still ask about cards or transfers and whether they deliver to your area.

Covered by IPS or using the public hospital?

• IPS: the IPS hospital in Villarrica has its own pharmacy and a 24-hour emergency department (Última Hora⁠⁠ (opens in a new tab)⁠). If an IPS doctor prescribed your medicine, ask there before paying at a private pharmacy.
• Ministry of Health: the Hospital Regional de Villarrica handles a large share of public care in Guairá: 24,389 visits in one month, outpatient and emergency combined (La Nación⁠⁠ (opens in a new tab)⁠). If you were treated there, ask the hospital which medicines they can provide and which you need to buy outside.
• Emergencies: if the counter cannot solve it, go straight to an emergency department instead of driving between pharmacies.

What to check at the counter

Dinavisa⁠⁠ (opens in a new tab)⁠, the national health surveillance agency, regulates pharmacies. Its inspections have found unregistered products, prices above the set level and missing cold-chain equipment (Última Hora⁠⁠ (opens in a new tab)⁠).

• Health registration: every imported medicine must have its registration printed on the box, along with the laboratory (Última Hora⁠⁠ (opens in a new tab)⁠).
• Cold chain: insulin and other refrigerated products should come out of a fridge.
• Receipt: always ask for one. Issuing a receipt is mandatory, and in 2016 the tax office (SET) closed a medicine shop in Villarrica for three days for not issuing them (Última Hora⁠⁠ (opens in a new tab)⁠). You also need it to complain or claim from your insurance.

Managing monthly refills

• Take a photo of the box and the prescription so any pharmacy can find the same product.
• Reorder a few days before you run out, especially for medicines that are sometimes out of stock.
• If you use delivery, confirm the fee and time in the same chat.
• If you are sold something unregistered or overcharged, report it on the Dinavisa⁠⁠ (opens in a new tab)⁠ website with the receipt and a photo.