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Health Care, Disease Control, Crime and Safety in Uruguay

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The healthcare policy in Uruguay is composed of two sectors, the private and the public sector. The public sector caters and provides service to Uruguayans from lower income families and they operate under the Ministry of Health. The private sector on the other hand deals with patient from the middle and upper class families.

In general, the healthcare system in Uruguay is excellent. There are many large hospitals that provide quality emergency care. Life expectancy is very high also. On the other hand, infantile mortality rate is very high which is why the government is focusing more on ways to improve the health of the babies born each year. Special attention is being given on cases of sudden infant death syndrome and underweight babies.

The water in the main city of Montivideo is safe for consumption but water from other smaller towns outside the city is rated to be not good so drink only bottled water. Uruguayans usually prepare food hygienically and avoid street foods. Milk that is pasteurized is considered to be safe. Pharmacies are in abundance in this country and most drugs do not require any prescription except for a few regulatory drugs.

Uruguay is considered to be a safe country but crimes still do exist. Take precaution as you would when traveling to a new place.

Just like traveling to any other country, updated immunization about certain disease is a must and check for updates on disease outbreaks is necessary as a precautionary advice. Emergency numbers are: 159, 710-1111, or 711-1111.