Colombia

Medical treatment in Colombia: hospitals, waiting times and prices for visitors

Prices checked 27 October 2026 (Taipei time)

Hospitals in Colombia for international patients, by city

We list only providers with their own service for patients from abroad and a track record they publish: a university or teaching hospital, international accreditation, or large published volumes. Open a hospital for how to book and how soon it says it can see you.

How soon hospitals in Colombia say they can see you

These are each hospital's own words, not our estimate. “Booking” is how soon it says you can be seen, “Department wait” is a wait it publishes for one department, and “Reply” is how fast it answers an enquiry. Few hospitals publish waiting times by department; where none is published, ask the international office for a date in writing before you book flights.

Prices in Colombia by procedure

Each range covers only prices that match the procedure's unit (for example one MRI area, or one eye). Open a procedure for every line and what it includes.

Not listed: MRI scans, CT scans, colonoscopies, gastroscopies, heart check-ups, cancer screening packages, cataract operations, laser eye operations, dental implants, full-arch implant treatments, veneers, hair transplants, hip replacements, knee replacements and IVF cycles. We did not find a published price in Colombia that we could verify.

Official figures and rules for patients from abroad

• In 2025 Colombia received 26,786 non-resident foreigners for health reasons, up 18.4% on 2024; January to August 2026: 21,034 visitors, up 17.6% on the same period of 2025 (figures supplied by the District Tourism Institute and reported by the Bogota city portal). figures
• Bogota received 7,320 non-resident international travellers for health reasons in January to August 2026, 34.8% of the national total (same page). figures
• Cali: by May 2024, 3,331 tourists arrived for medical treatment (2,730 foreigners and 601 non-resident Colombians), 7% more than the same period of 2023 (city of Cali, citing Migracion Colombia). figures
• Canadians: tourist visa not required for stays up to 90 days (extendable to 180 days per calendar year); a free electronic form (Check-Mig) must be completed 72 hours to 1 hour before boarding; officials may ask for a return/onward ticket and proof of funds. Page last updated 14 October 2026. rule
• Government of Canada: 'Canadian citizens have died or had serious health complications following cosmetic or other elective surgeries in Colombia'. Canada advises avoiding non-essential travel to parts of Valle del Cauca 'excluding the cities of Buga, Cali, Palmira' and parts of Antioquia (not Medellin city as listed). rule
• HPTU's own page: the hospital treats you as an international patient if you are Colombian or foreign and have lived abroad for six months or more, or live in Colombia with international health insurance; payment must be made in full before a procedure. rule

Entry rules

We link to the official advice rather than restating it, because entry rules change. Check the page for your passport before you book:

• UK citizens (FCDO entry requirements)
• Canadian citizens (travel.gc.ca)
• US citizens (State Department, choose the country)
• Irish citizens (DFA travel advice, choose the country)

Can you claim the cost back?

Planning a medical trip to Colombia

• Ask each clinic for a written, itemised quote and the appointment in writing before booking flights.
• Check that your travel insurance covers planned medical treatment; many policies exclude it.
• Ask for reports in English and images in a format your doctor at home can open. See how to bring your results home.
• Know who to contact if you have a problem after you fly home, and tell your own doctor before you go.

Other countries

All 20 countries we compare, or start from a procedure: MRI scans, CT scans, colonoscopies, gastroscopies, health check-ups, heart check-ups, cancer screening packages, cataract operations, laser eye operations, dental implants, full-arch implant treatments, veneers, hair transplants, hip replacements, knee replacements, IVF cycles.