São Paulo is already famous as Brazil’s economic engine, but the city is now gaining great importance for another reason: it has become the health capital of Latin America.
According to a new study by São Paulo Negos, health tourism is on the move 49.7 billion Brazilian reals per year, receiving around 4.2 million Of visitors arriving in the city seeking medical care, surgeries, examinations and cosmetic procedures.
More than just a medical destination, São Paulo today is a global center for medical innovation, combining technology, scientific research, hospital infrastructure and excellent human capital.
Growing market
According to the survey, the focus of São Paulo 27 hospitals Internationally certified by the Joint Commission International (JCI), the world’s most recognized hospital quality seal.
This distinguished network is accompanied by a complete infrastructure of clinics, laboratories, diagnostic centers and a chain of hotels equipped to receive patients and companions.
Among the reasons travelers choose São Paulo, 31% cite quality of services and reputation, followed by hospital infrastructure (22%) and medical advice (14%). Other factors, such as competitive pricing and hotel structure, also figure in the decision pecking order.
Moreover, the city hosts the largest medical conferences in Latin America, strengthening its role as a center of knowledge and innovation in the health sector.
Where do they come from and what are they looking for?
Between January and August 2025, 3.6 million people They were circulated through the city’s main hospital areas. Most come from other Brazilian states, but 264,000 foreigners arrived in the capital exclusively in search of care.
The main emitting countries are the United States (24%), Bolivia (10%), Argentina (8%), Peru (7%) and Colombia (6%).
Among Brazilians, the most frequent visitors are from Minas Gerais, Rio de Janeiro and Parana. They usually stay in the city for three to four days, staying in areas close to medical centers.
Illustration of the flow of tourists from other countries to Brazil
The most requested treatments are cosmetic procedures (25%), followed by cardiovascular treatments (21%) and oncology (15%).
There is also significant growth in the areas of assisted fertility, orthopedics, rehabilitation and mental health, sectors that are receiving more private investment and partnerships with universities.
Investment opportunities
Health tourism in São Paulo not only transports hospitals, but enhances the entire production chain.
Economic analysis conducted by São Paulo Negosios, based on USP’s matrix of inputs and products (MIP), showed that the sector generates annual sales of 49.7 billion Brazilian realsbeing 145.6 million Brazilian reals Directly in the private health sector.
Other sectors also reap benefits:
- Trade and retail: 11.4 million Brazilian reals
- Insurance and pensions: 4.4 million Brazilian reals
- Pharmaceutical industry: 4.2 million Brazilian reals
- Transportation and food: 4 million Brazilian reals
Although the direct impact is more concentrated on private health, the study shows that indirect impacts spread and generate jobs, income and tax revenues.
These numbers reinforce that investment in medical tourism is an investment in economic and social development.
A new concept of “medical tourism”
The profile of this tourist is also changing.
The average length of stay in the city is 3 to 4 days, but in the case of international patients, the length of stay reaches 22 days, and expenses range from 3 thousand US dollars and 15 thousand US dollarsAccording to Global Health Intelligence (2025).
These patients seek everything from highly complex treatments, such as oncology and cardiology, to cosmetic surgeries, orthopedics, and rehabilitation.
According to the study, São Paulo offers treatments of international standards at prices up to 6 times lower than countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom and Canada, which increases global competitiveness.
Quality that crosses borders
Medical excellence in São Paulo is the result of a combination of factors: investment in technology, cutting-edge university centres, qualified professionals, and a network of international reference private hospitals.
Institutions such as the Syrian-Lebanese Hospital, Albert Einstein, and HCor are cited as examples of clinical excellence, helping to attract foreign patients and enhancing São Paulo’s reputation as a safe and competitive destination.
Another difference is the integration with traditional tourism. Many visitors combine medical treatments with leisure, gastronomic and cultural experiences, extending the average length of stay in the city and enhancing São Paulo’s image as a complete destination.
A strategic destination for investors
With millions of patients traveling annually, international standard medical infrastructure and a dynamic business ecosystem, São Paulo is positioned to cement itself as a major center for health tourism in Latin America.
The expansion of this market would attract new companies, strengthen the service sector, generate qualified job opportunities, and transform the capital of São Paulo into a global showcase for Brazilian medicine.
Sao Paulo Business
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