⚡ DIRECT ACCESS TO MSPAS
Ministry of Public Health and Social Welfare — Guatemala
Which one to use?
- MSPAS Portal — institutional info, news, regulations, transparency reports
- Salud Juntos — active measles outbreak: vaccination, symptoms, confirmed case data
- Facility Directory — find puesto/centro de salud, CAP, CAIMI, hospital near your municipality
- Drug Registry — verify a medication is legal and authorized in Guatemala
📞 Phone: 2444-7474 · 📍 6 Avenida 3-45 Zona 11, Guatemala City · 🕒 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM · 🆔 Verified: May 2026
MSPAS (Ministerio de Salud Pública y Asistencia Social) is Guatemala’s public health ministry. It runs free public healthcare from the smallest rural health post to national hospitals, regulates medications and food products, licenses pharmacies and restaurants, and coordinates response to health emergencies like the current measles outbreak.
Quick rule: Need free medical care? → Nearest health center (MSPAS directory). Own a pharmacy, restaurant, or drugstore? → MSPAS sanitary license. Doubts about a medication? → Drug registry. Symptoms of measles, dengue, or any health alert? → saludjuntos.gt or call your local health center.
🚨 National Health Alert — Measles 2026
Guatemala is facing a measles outbreak since early 2026. Official data as of May 7, 2026:
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Confirmed cases | 5,821 |
| Deaths | 7 |
| Case fatality rate | 0.12% |
| Vaccine doses administered | 604,638 |
| Highest concentration | Central Guatemala |
| Alert level | 🔴 Red, nationwide |
The MMR vaccine (sarampión, paperas, rubéola = measles, mumps, rubella) and SR vaccine (measles, rubella) are free at any health center and the only way to stop the outbreak. If you’re not vaccinated or have questions:
- WhatsApp ALMA: 2339-9810 (immediate guidance, free)
- Official portal: saludjuntos.gt (anonymous symptom and vaccination questionnaires)
- Full guide: Measles Guatemala 2026 — symptoms, vaccine, where to go
Most-searched MSPAS services
Active health emergencies and alerts
| Topic | Status | Direct access |
|---|---|---|
| Measles Guatemala 2026 | 🔴 Red alert | saludjuntos.gt |
| Dengue Guatemala 2026 | 🟡 Rainy season risk | mspas.gob.gt/dengue |
| Mpox (viruela símica) | 🟢 Active surveillance | mspas.gob.gt/viruela-simica |
Sanitary licenses for businesses
| Service | For whom | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Food Sanitary License | Restaurants, food prep, food sales | Q500 |
| Pharmacy Sanitary License | Pharmacy opening, renewal, transfer | Q0-500 |
| Beauty Salon Sanitary License | Salons, spas, beauty studios | Q0 |
| Drugstore / Distributor Sanitary License | Drugstores, distributors | Q0 |
| Medicine Sales Sanitary License | Medicine sales businesses (small pharmacies) | Q0 |
| Natural Products Sanitary License | Natural product retailers | Q0 |
| Dental Supply Sanitary License | Dental supply distribution | Q0 |
| Health Establishment License | Private clinics, hospitals | Q5,400 |
Certificates and registrations
| Service | For whom | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Health Certificate for Export | Food and product exporters | Q35 |
| Sanitary Registration Certificate Replacement | Lost or damaged certificate | Q25 |
Public MSPAS directories
| Directory | What it does | Access |
|---|---|---|
| Health facility directory (all levels) | Find puesto/centro de salud, CAP, CAIMI, hospital, or PROAM Pharmacy by department + municipality | establecimientosdesalud.mspas.gob.gt |
| Drug registry lookup | Verify whether a medication is legal and authorized | medicamentos.mspas.gob.gt |
| Epidemiology data | Cases by disease, alerts by department | epidemiologia.mspas.gob.gt |
| SIGSA system | Health information management system (institutional use) | sigsa.mspas.gob.gt |
Before any MSPAS service — checklist
| Have ready | Why |
|---|---|
| Scanned DPI (or passport for foreigners) | Required ID for all services |
| Valid NIT | For licenses, certificates, and paid services |
| Payment receipt | When applicable (Q25-6,750 depending on service) |
| Establishment floor plan | For sanitary licenses (location, areas, exits) |
| Service-specific documentation | Varies (DRCA forms, GMP/GLP certs, etc.) |
| Active email | MSPAS sends decisions, requirements, expiration notices |
Types of health facilities — what to look for
When you use the MSPAS facility directory, you’ll see these categories. Knowing the difference helps you go to the right place:
| Type | What it is | When to go |
|---|---|---|
| Puesto de Salud | Minimum service in villages and rural communities (1-2 staff) | Basic care, vaccinations, first aid |
| Centro de Salud (CS) | Expanded services in towns (doctor, nursing, basic pharmacy) | General consultation, prenatal care, vaccinations |
| CAP — Centro de Atención Permanente | 24-hour care with doctor on duty | Emergencies, births, after-hours |
| CAIMI | Maternal-Infant Comprehensive Care Center | Pregnancy, birth, newborns, child health |
| District / Departmental / National Hospital | Specialties, surgery, hospitalization | Complex cases referred from CS or CAP |
| Farmacia PROAM | State-subsidized medications | Buy essential medications at reduced prices |
Diaspora — managing MSPAS issues from the US
If you live abroad and need MSPAS support for family in Guatemala:
- Verify medications you ship: use medicamentos.mspas.gob.gt before sending to make sure it’s legal in Guatemala.
- Family member with measles or dengue: WhatsApp ALMA 2339-9810 handles questions from abroad too.
- Report a public health center failing your family (denied care, missing vaccine, malpractice): the official complaints form at mspas.gob.gt/sugerencias-quejas works from any country.
- Help family open a regulated business (e.g., restaurant or pharmacy): you can complete most paperwork from the US via the MSPAS portal — your family signs final documents in Guatemala.
Frequently asked MSPAS topics — quick directory
- Measles Guatemala 2026 — symptoms, vaccine, where to go
- Dengue Guatemala 2026 — season, prevention, symptoms
- How to find a health center near you (coming soon — searchable directory)
MSPAS Contact
| Channel | Detail |
|---|---|
| Phone | 2444-7474 |
| Hours | Monday-Friday 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM |
| Address | 6 Avenida 3-45, Zona 11, Guatemala City |
| WhatsApp Measles (ALMA) | 2339-9810 (24/7 for measles emergency) |
| Complaints and suggestions | mspas.gob.gt/sugerencias-quejas |
| Public information request | mspas.gob.gt/solicitud-acceso-informacion-publica |
More Guatemala government resources
- SAT Guatemala — for your NIT, RTU, IVA, ISR (related — sanitary licenses require active NIT)
- RENAP Guatemala — DPI, birth certificates, death records
- Guatemala Trámites Directory — complete directory of state services