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Children's health in Mexico City

In Mexico City, expat families almost all use private healthcare: paediatricians in consulting rooms within the big hospital towers, direct access without a family doctor, emergency departments open day and night, and health insurance that makes all the difference. Here is how it works, with verified addresses and the official list of French-speaking practitioners published by the consulate.

Verified on 30 October 2026

How the health system works

Two worlds live side by side: public social security (IMSS for employees and their families, ISSSTE for civil servants, IMSS-Bienestar for the uninsured) and a very good private sector in the capital, where most French families go. No carte Vitale and no reimbursement: you pay, or the insurance pays.

Good to know

  • Every employee is enrolled with the IMSS by the employer, with a social security number (NSS) and a local clinic (UMF) assigned by address; spouse and children can be registered as beneficiaries and treated free of charge. Waiting times and comfort explain why expats mostly use it as a safety net. Source
  • No insurance is compulsory to live in Mexico, but hospital costs are very high and hospitals systematically refuse patients without a financial guarantee: without an agreement between your insurer and the hospital, you are asked to pay all costs upfront. 'Gastos médicos mayores' or international cover is therefore essential. Source
  • The French State does not cover care, hospitalisation or repatriation of a French citizen abroad: the Caisse des Français de l'étranger (CFE) and private insurance are the only possible protections. Source
  • In the private sector, no family doctor: you choose your paediatrician, gynaecologist or dentist directly, in the consultorio towers of the ABC, Español, Ángeles or Médica Sur hospitals. The consultation is paid on the spot and the insurance reimburses, or covers hospitalisation directly. Source
  • Mexico City sits at 2,240 metres and has pollution peaks, especially from February to May: breathlessness, disturbed sleep and dry noses in the first weeks are common in children as in adults. Hydrate, go easy in the first days and seek medical advice for sensitive people. Source

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Finding a paediatrician and baby check-ups

There is nothing to 'register' on arrival: you choose a paediatrician, book an appointment, often by WhatsApp, and keep them. The local health record is the Cartilla Nacional de Salud, but your French carnet counts.

Good to know

  • The Mexican paediatrician follows the child from birth to adolescence, in private practice, and often sees you the same day for a fever; the consulate's list includes four French-speaking ones in Mexico City, including a neonatologist and two paediatric gastroenterologists. Source
  • The Cartilla Nacional de Salud is the official booklet recording vaccines, weight and check-ups; it is provided free at health centres (Unidades de Salud), which replace it if missing. Bring the French health record and, if possible, a translation of the vaccines: the paediatrician will copy across what has already been given. Source
  • If you are covered by the IMSS, have spouse and children registered as beneficiaries as soon as you are enrolled: this is what opens the local clinic (UMF), vaccines and public emergency care at no cost. Source
  • Bring to the first appointment: the health record, the insurance card and policy number, the child's CURP if you already have it, and the list of current treatments with their international non-proprietary names, as brand names differ.
  • Schools ask for a recent medical certificate and the vaccination record at enrolment: book the paediatrician before the start of term rather than after.

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Emergencies and children's hospitals

One number, 911, and one reflex: identify the private hospital nearest your home as soon as you arrive and check it has an agreement with your insurer. The capital's big hospitals run 24/7 emergency departments with triage by severity at the door.

Good to know

  • 9-1-1 is Mexico's single emergency number (police, fire, ambulance); the old 060, 065 or 066 numbers no longer work. Private hospitals also have a direct emergency admissions line, shown on their website, and their own ambulances. Source
  • At the Centro Médico ABC emergency unit, open 24/7 all year on both campuses, a nurse grades each patient by colour on arrival, from red (immediate) to blue (deferred consultation); bring the insurance card and a bank card, a deposit is requested at admission. Source
  • For a child, ask for the on-call paediatrician: the Español (paediatric division 'El Hospitalito'), Ángeles and ABC hospitals have one at all times, and your own paediatrician can often join you or guide you by phone. Source
  • Two public reference hospitals are entirely dedicated to children: the Hospital Infantil de México Federico Gómez, in colonia Doctores, and the Instituto Nacional de Pediatría, in Coyoacán, both with an emergency department. They take serious cases and uninsured families. Source

Addresses

  • Centro Médico ABC, campus Observatorio

    Emergency

    Sur 136 No. 116, Col. Las Américas, Álvaro Obregón

    24/7 emergencies with colour triage, paediatric centre and emergency paediatricians; the historic private hospital of the English-speaking and French community, on the edge of Tacubaya and San Miguel Chapultepec.

    Website Source

  • Centro Médico ABC, campus Santa Fe

    Emergency

    Av. Carlos Graef Fernández 154, Col. Santa Fe, Cuajimalpa

    The ABC's second campus, in the western business district: 24/7 emergencies, paediatrics and obstetrics; several French-speaking doctors from the consulate's list consult there.

    Website Source

  • Hospital Español de México

    Emergency

    Ejército Nacional 613, Col. Granada, Miguel Hidalgo

    On the edge of Polanco, the closest to the Lycée franco-mexicain: emergencies with a direct line, 'El Hospitalito' paediatric and neonatal division, maternity unit; several French-speaking practitioners (paediatrician-neonatologist, gynaecologist, emergency doctor) work there.

    Website Source

  • Hospital Angeles Pedregal

    Emergency

    Camino de Santa Teresa 1055, Col. Héroes de Padierna, Tlalpan

    The big private hospital of the south, handy for families in Coyoacán, San Ángel and the Pedregal: emergencies, specialty tower, paediatrics and neonatology.

    Website Source

  • Hospital Angeles Lomas

    Emergency

    Vialidad de la Barranca s/n, Hacienda de las Palmas, Huixquilucan

    24/7 emergencies all year, for families in the Lomas, Bosques and Interlomas; a French-speaking psychiatrist and internist from the consulate's list consult there.

    Website Source

  • Médica Sur

    Emergency

    Puente de Piedra 150, Col. Toriello Guerra, Tlalpan

    High-specialty hospital in the south of the city: emergencies with triage on entry, neonatology, obstetrics and gynaecology; a reference for families in Tlalpan and the Pedregal.

    Website Source

  • Hospital Infantil de México Federico Gómez

    Hospital

    Dr. Márquez 162, Col. Doctores, Cuauhtémoc

    The country's public paediatric reference hospital and national research institute: emergencies and paediatric specialties, for complex cases and uninsured families.

    Website Source

  • Instituto Nacional de Pediatría

    Hospital

    Insurgentes Sur 3700-C, Coyoacán

    National public institute dedicated to childhood and adolescence, in the south of the city: emergency department and specialised outpatient clinics.

    Website Source

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French-speaking doctors, dentist and therapists

The French consulate general in Mexico City publishes a list of French-speaking doctors in Mexico, updated on 3 November 2026. It is provided for information only, does not engage the administration's responsibility for the quality of care or fees, and the choice of practitioner is free. We list the Mexico City practitioners most useful to families; all work privately.

Good to know

  • For Mexico City, the official list covers paediatricians, a children's and teenagers' dentist, GPs, an ENT specialist, an orthopaedic surgeon, psychiatrists and psychologists who speak French, with languages spoken and consulting location; it is the only public source checked by the administration. Source
  • These practitioners almost all consult in the consultorio towers of the private hospitals (Español, ABC Santa Fe, Ángeles Pedregal, Ángeles Lomas, Ángeles Universidad): consultations are paid, reimbursed or not depending on your insurance. Appointments are often made by WhatsApp. Source
  • The expat directory of the Mexico edition of lepetitjournal.com complements the list with professionals who register themselves; the lycée parents' groups remain the liveliest source of recommendations. Source

Addresses

  • Dr Narda González Silva

    Paediatrician

    Bosques de las Lomas

    Paediatrician, practice in Bosques de las Lomas, handy for families in the Lomas and Interlomas.

    Languages spoken : FR, EN, ES

    Source

  • Dr Corinne Lozano Duau

    Paediatrician

    Hôpital Español (Granada, à la lisière de Polanco)

    Paediatrician and neonatologist, consults in the Antonino Fernández tower of the Hospital Español, the closest to the Lycée franco-mexicain.

    Languages spoken : FR, EN, ES

    Source

  • Dr Sergio Miranda

    Paediatrician

    Guadalupe Inn et Condesa

    Paediatrician, paediatric gastroenterology and nutrition, two practices: Insurgentes Sur (Guadalupe Inn) and Condesa.

    Languages spoken : FR, EN, ES

    Source

  • Dr Marc Saadia

    Dentist

    Lomas de Chapultepec

    Dentist for children and teenagers, orthodontics and dentofacial orthopaedics, practice in Lomas de Chapultepec.

    Languages spoken : FR, EN, ES

    Source

  • Dr Alberto Aznar Jean

    General practitioner

    Polanco

    General practice and gastroenterological surgery, practice on Ejército Nacional in Polanco.

    Languages spoken : FR, EN, ES

    Source

  • Dr Raymundo Núñez

    General practitioner

    Hôpital Español (Granada, à la lisière de Polanco)

    Emergency medicine, intensive care and general practice, consults in the new consultorio tower of the Hospital Español.

    Languages spoken : FR, EN, ES

    Source

  • Dr Raquel Mendoza Aguilar

    General practitioner

    Hôpital ABC Santa Fe et Hôpital Angeles Lomas

    Internal medicine specialising in infectious diseases, useful for the adults in the family; consults at ABC Santa Fe and Angeles Lomas.

    Languages spoken : FR, EN, ES

    Source

  • Dr Bárbara Luján Duarte

    Polanco

    Ear, nose and throat specialist (ENT), practice on Eugenio Sue in Polanco: ear infections, adenoids and children's hearing.

    Languages spoken : FR, ES, EN

    Source

  • Dr Eric Hazan

    Polanco

    Orthopaedic and trauma surgeon, practice on Homero in Polanco: fractures and sprains of budding athletes.

    Languages spoken : FR, EN, ES

    Source

  • Dr Diana Morales Heinen

    Psychologist

    Colonia Cuauhtémoc

    Psychiatrist, practice on Río Nilo in colonia Cuauhtémoc, near Reforma.

    Languages spoken : FR, EN, ES

    Source

  • Dr Armando Barriguete

    Psychologist

    Hôpital Angeles Lomas (Huixquilucan)

    Psychiatrist specialising in eating disorders and obesity, psychotherapy and psychoanalysis, consults at Angeles Lomas.

    Languages spoken : FR, EN, PT, ES

    Source

  • Dr Mónica Vázquez Ávila

    Psychologist

    San Jerónimo Lídice (Álvaro Obregón)

    Psychoanalyst specialising in difficult emotional situations (anxiety attacks, depression), practice in the south of the city.

    Languages spoken : FR, ES

    Source

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Pregnancy and maternity units

Pregnancy is followed by a freely chosen obstetrician-gynaecologist, who delivers in the private hospital where they practise; hospitals offer 'paquetes de maternidad', packages covering the delivery and the stay. Caesareans are common in the private sector: discuss your wishes early.

Good to know

  • The choice of gynaecologist determines the maternity unit: each practises in one or two hospitals. The Ángeles hospitals, the ABC, the Español and Médica Sur publish their maternity packages; check what your insurance covers, as most impose a waiting period for pregnancy. Source
  • The consulate's list (November 2026) has no French-speaking obstetrician-gynaecologist in Mexico City; independent midwives are rare, support comes through doulas and hospital antenatal classes. Source
  • Statutory maternity leave (incapacidad por maternidad) lasts twelve weeks, six before and six after the birth, paid by the IMSS for enrolled employees; up to four of the six prenatal weeks can be moved to after the birth with the doctor's and employer's agreement. Source
  • After the birth, the hospital issues a certificate used to register the child with the Mexican Registro Civil; then ask the consulate to transcribe the birth certificate into the French civil register, essential for the passport and the consular register. Source

Addresses

  • Centro Médico ABC, Centro de Obstetricia

    Maternity

    Campus Observatorio (Sur 136 No. 116) et Santa Fe (Av. Carlos Graef Fernández 154)

    The ABC's obstetrics centre, with maternal-fetal medicine, neonatology and the Women's Centre, on both campuses; very popular with international families.

    Website Source

  • Hospital Español, Maternidad

    Maternity

    Ejército Nacional 613, Col. Granada, Miguel Hidalgo

    Maternity unit with packages, neonatal intensive care (UCIN) and the 'El Hospitalito' paediatric division on site, on the edge of Polanco.

    Website Source

  • Hospital Angeles, forfaits maternité

    Maternity

    Pedregal, Lomas, Universidad, Roma, Mocel et autres hôpitaux du réseau

    The country's largest private network publishes its maternity packages and has nurseries (cuneros) and neonatology in its Mexico City hospitals.

    Website Source

  • Médica Sur, gynécologie-obstétrique

    Maternity

    Puente de Piedra 150, Col. Toriello Guerra, Tlalpan

    Obstetrics and gynaecology and neonatology department of the high-specialty hospital in the south of the city.

    Website Source

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Pharmacies and medicines

Pharmacies are everywhere, often open 24/7 and deliver to your door; many have a small adjoining doctor's office (consultorio) for a quick consultation. On the other hand, Doliprane does not exist and antibiotics are only dispensed with a Mexican prescription.

Good to know

  • The big chains (Farmacias del Ahorro, San Pablo, Guadalajara, Benavides, Similares) have 24/7 branches in every neighbourhood and deliver to your door, sometimes within the hour; generic prices are very low. Source
  • Prescription-only medicines (antibiotics, psychotropics, some painkillers) are only dispensed with a prescription from a doctor practising in Mexico, with their cédula number; for antibiotics, the prescription is only valid for the duration of the prescribed treatment. A French prescription is not enough: see a doctor locally. Source
  • Equivalents: children's paracetamol syrup = Tempra or Tylenol infantil (acetaminofén), ibuprofen = Advil or Motrin infantil, saline = solución salina or suero fisiológico, Doliprane and Spasfon do not exist. Suppositories are rare; cough syrups abound.
  • The 'consultorios adyacentes' attached to pharmacies see patients without appointment for a very cheap consultation, handy for a sore throat or a repeat prescription; for a baby or a serious case, go to your paediatrician.
  • Carry your usual treatments in their original packaging with a prescription in international non-proprietary names, and never buy medicines in the street, counterfeits exist. Source

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Vaccines: how the schedule differs from France

The Mexican schedule (Esquema Nacional de Vacunación) covers the same major diseases as the French one, with a few differences: BCG and hepatitis B from birth, rotavirus for all, no meningococcal vaccine. Public vaccines are free and recorded in the Cartilla; private paediatricians fill the gaps.

Good to know

  • The Universal Vaccination Programme aims for 95% coverage for each vaccine; scheduled doses are free at health centres and IMSS clinics, and recorded in the Cartilla Nacional de Salud given to each child. Source
  • Main differences with France: BCG is given to all newborns in Mexico whereas it has not been routine in France since 2007, hepatitis B starts at birth, and rotavirus is on both countries' schedules; on the other hand meningococcal B and ACWY, on the French schedule, are not included and are done privately. Source
  • Every winter, the seasonal vaccination campaign offers the flu vaccine free to children aged 6 months to 5 years, pregnant women and at-risk people, from October to March, at health centres and the IMSS. Source
  • The HPV vaccine is offered to girls and boys around age 11, in a national campaign, including in schools; the 2026 guidelines are published by CENSIA. Source
  • Private paediatricians also vaccinate, for a fee, and offer vaccines outside the public schedule (meningococcal, chickenpox, hepatitis A): this is the route most expat families choose to keep pace with the French schedule, eleven of whose vaccinations are compulsory for young children. Source
  • Before leaving, France Diplomatie recommends, depending on the length of stay, hepatitis A, typhoid, hepatitis B and, for young children or rural stays, rabies; dengue circulates in several coastal states but not in the capital, which is too high. Source

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These landmarks do not replace the advice of a health professional. In an emergency, call the local emergency number shown above.

A place has closed, something has changed? Tell us: the mums of Mexico City will thank you.

Sources for this page

The public pages these landmarks come from. The official website always prevails.

  1. 1 Consulat général de France à Mexico, liste de notoriété des médecins (PDF, novembre 2026)
  2. 2 Consulat général de France à Mexico, traducteurs et professionnels francophones
  3. 3 France Diplomatie, conseils aux voyageurs Mexique, santé
  4. 4 Gobierno de México, le 9-1-1
  5. 5 Centro Médico ABC, unité d'urgences
  6. 6 IMSS, maternité
  7. 7 CENSIA, Programme de vaccination universel
  8. 8 Farmacias del Ahorro, règles de délivrance sur ordonnance

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