How to See a Doctor and Get a Prescription in Mexico as a Foreigner (Tourists, Expats and Digital Nomads)
Yes. As a tourist, expat or digital nomad you can see a doctor online in Mexico, in English or Spanish, and get a prescription from a doctor licensed in Mexico that you can take to a local pharmacy, without Mexican health insurance. The doctor decides whether you need a medicine, and not every medicine can be prescribed by video. If you have an emergency, call 911 instead.
I am a physician and the founder of TravelDoctores, and our network includes doctors licensed in Mexico who see travellers and expats by video. This guide is based on what we see in those consultations: what people ask, what can be solved by video, and what cannot.
Medically reviewed by Dr. Fernanda Montes de Oca Villa, physician licensed in Mexico (cédula profesional 9649626).
The short version: a video consultation works well for common, non-urgent problems such as stomach trouble, ear or urinary infections and skin reactions. The prescription must come from a doctor licensed in Mexico, and in Mexico antibiotics are meant to be sold only with one. For anything serious, go in person or call 911.
Do I need Mexican health insurance to see a doctor in Mexico?
No. Mexico has public and private healthcare, and most visitors end up paying privately, at a clinic, a hospital or a doctor’s office next to a pharmacy, and then claiming from their travel insurance if they have it. A video consultation with us is paid directly and does not depend on any Mexican insurance. We issue an invoice on request, which you can submit to your own insurer to claim the cost back. Check your policy first, because insurers differ in what they reimburse.
Which problems can a doctor treat by video in Mexico?
Video works best for common, non-urgent problems where the doctor can reach a safe decision by talking to you and looking at the problem on camera. Stomach trouble is a frequent reason to consult, and our guide to traveller’s diarrhoea treatment explains what is normal and what is not. The conditions we see most often in Mexico include:
A video consultation cannot replace a physical examination, an X-ray or blood tests. If the doctor thinks you need one, they will say so and point you to a clinic or hospital near you.
How does an online prescription work in Mexico?
A prescription that a Mexican pharmacy can dispense must come from a doctor licensed in Mexico. It includes the doctor’s name and their cédula profesional, which is their professional licence number, together with the medicine, the dose and how long to take it. That is exactly what our doctors in Mexico issue, digitally, after the consultation.
In practice the steps are simple: you fill in the form, a doctor in Mexico accepts your case and you connect by video. If the doctor decides you need a medicine, you receive the prescription and take it to any pharmacy, on your phone or printed. Pharmacies are easy to find in most cities and resort areas. Ask the doctor to write the active ingredient as well as the brand, because brand names differ from country to country.
Two things are worth knowing. Antibiotics are meant to be sold in Mexico only with a prescription, and a doctor will prescribe one only when it is needed. And some medicines, such as strong painkillers or sleeping pills, are tightly regulated and may not be prescribed by video at all. The decision is always the doctor’s, after assessing you. A prescription from your home country is usually not valid in Mexico, and we explain why in our post on prescriptions abroad and local doctors.
Can I see a doctor online in Cancún, Mexico City, Tulum or Oaxaca?
Yes, anywhere in Mexico with a stable internet connection. Whether you are in Mexico City, Cancún, Playa del Carmen, the wider Riviera Maya, Tulum, Los Cabos, Puerto Vallarta or Oaxaca, the process is the same. We also see patients in Guadalajara, Monterrey, San Miguel de Allende and Puerto Escondido, and you can find the full overview on our page for an English-speaking doctor in Mexico.
This matters especially if you are staying for weeks or months, in a neighbourhood such as Roma Norte or Condesa in Mexico City, in Playa del Carmen or in Tulum. Long stays are when a cough turns into a bronchitis, or when your regular medication runs out, and a doctor you can reach from your apartment is more practical than finding a clinic in a language you are still learning.
Do doctors in Mexico speak English, and when is video better than a clinic?
In tourist areas such as Cancún, Playa del Carmen, Los Cabos and Puerto Vallarta, and in private hospitals in Mexico City, many doctors speak English. Elsewhere it is less common. Many pharmacies have a small doctor’s office next door, which is a quick and inexpensive option for simple problems, but English is not guaranteed and the consultation is usually short.
A video consultation makes sense when the problem is not urgent, you would rather stay in your hotel or apartment, and you want to explain your symptoms clearly in English or Spanish. A clinic or hospital is the better choice when you may need an examination, an X-ray, blood tests or a procedure.
When should I go in person or call 911?
Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room if you have chest pain, difficulty breathing, signs of a stroke such as a drooping face or slurred speech, a serious injury, heavy bleeding, confusion or loss of consciousness. Confusion after a long time in the sun can be heat stroke, which is an emergency. A video consultation does not replace emergency care.
Dengue is present in Mexico. If you develop a high fever after mosquito bites, with a strong headache, pain behind the eyes or in the joints, tell the doctor you were bitten. Severe abdominal pain, persistent vomiting or bleeding are warning signs that mean you need to be seen in person straight away, and we will tell you so.
Travelling or living in Mexico?
Talk by video to a doctor licensed in Mexico, in English or Spanish, and get a local prescription when it is clinically appropriate.
What should I have ready before the consultation?
A few things make the consultation faster and safer. Know in which city you are, because the doctor must be licensed in the country where you are physically located. Write down when your symptoms started and what you have already taken. Have a photo of the box of any medication you use regularly, and tell the doctor about any allergies. Choose a place with a stable connection, and keep your phone charged. If you want to know what to expect, our page on how an online doctor works explains each step.
Mexico is a wonderful country to travel in and to live in, and most health problems on the road are minor and easy to solve if you act early. Knowing in advance how to reach a doctor, and what a valid prescription looks like, is part of travelling well.
Dr. RossiPhysician and founder, TravelDoctores
Frequently asked questions
Yes. TravelDoctores connects tourists, expats and digital nomads by video with doctors licensed in Mexico, in English or Spanish. If the doctor decides you need a medicine, they can issue a Mexican prescription when it is clinically appropriate.
No. A video consultation with TravelDoctores does not require Mexican insurance. You pay for the consultation directly, and we issue an invoice on request that you can submit to your own insurer to claim the cost back, although each insurer sets its own rules.
Usually not. A prescription is valid in the country where it was issued, so Mexican pharmacies expect one from a doctor licensed in Mexico, with the doctor’s name and professional licence number (cédula profesional).
Antibiotics are meant to be sold in Mexico only with a prescription. If a doctor assesses you and decides that an antibiotic is appropriate, they can prescribe it. They will not prescribe one when it is not needed.
In tourist areas such as Cancún, Playa del Carmen, Los Cabos and Puerto Vallarta, and in private hospitals in Mexico City, many do. Elsewhere it is less common, which is why many travellers prefer a video consultation in English.
Anywhere in Mexico with a stable internet connection, including Mexico City, Cancún, Playa del Carmen, Tulum, Los Cabos, Puerto Vallarta and Oaxaca.
Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room if you have chest pain, difficulty breathing, signs of a stroke, a serious injury, heavy bleeding, confusion or loss of consciousness. A video consultation does not replace emergency care.
Talk to a doctor licensed in Mexico
Video consultation · English and Spanish · Local prescriptions when clinically appropriate
