Español ↗

Sick while you're in El Salvador?

A doctor who can see you today, without an appointment — 30 minutes north of central San Salvador. Dra. Ena Merlos has 16 years in family medicine. She works out what's actually wrong and treats it: rest and oral rehydration when that's the answer, an IV drip when it's genuinely warranted, antibiotics only if indicated.

📍 Apopa, San Salvador, El Salvador · Walk-in, no appointment · WhatsApp +503 7450-8530

IV vitamin therapy drip at Clínica Familiar Eliette, El Salvador
What we see most

Why visitors end up here

You don't need to be seriously ill to see a doctor. Most of what walks in is ordinary — it just happens to be ordinary in a country where you don't know how the health system works.

🍽️

Something you ate or drank

Travellers' diarrhoea affects a large share of visitors to Latin America. Most cases settle with oral rehydration and a few days. Some don't, and that's worth knowing early rather than late.

🩹

An infected cut or bite

Cleaning, dressing and stitches if needed. Tropical humidity turns a small wound into an infected one faster than you'd expect at home.

👂

The everyday stuff

Ear and throat infections, fever, a urinary infection, a sprained ankle, a rash. The things you'd see your own doctor about.

💊

You're here for weeks, not days

Staying with family, on a mission trip, working in the north of the city. You need a doctor and a pharmacy, not an emergency room.

🛬

Dehydration after a long flight

Heat, altitude change and a long haul add up. Sometimes rest and fluids by mouth are enough; sometimes an IV is the right call. We assess before we treat.

💧

When an IV is genuinely needed

Severe dehydration — you can't keep fluids down, you've stopped passing urine, you feel faint standing up. That's what an IV is for, and we have one ready.

A straight answer about drips

Oral rehydration is the first-line treatment for travellers' diarrhoea — that's what the CDC and WHO recommend, and usually it's all you need. An IV is for severe dehydration. We're not going to sell you a drip you don't need. Dra. Merlos will tell you if fluids, rest and time are the answer, and that consultation is worth more to you than the drip.

How it works

From message to drip

Step 01

Message us

Tell us on WhatsApp what you need and when. We reply in English or Spanish and confirm a time.

Step 02

Medical assessment

Dra. Merlos reviews your history and confirms which drip suits you — or advises against it.

Step 03

Your session

About 60 minutes, sterile single-use materials, supervised throughout. Then back to your trip.

Your physician

Dra. Ena Merlos

Dra. Ena Merlos, physician at Clínica Familiar Eliette, El Salvador

16 years of medical practice in El Salvador. Every IV therapy here is prescribed and supervised by a physician — never sold as an off-the-shelf product.

Dra. Ena Merlos · General Physician

FAQ

Questions from visitors

Our team speaks Spanish. Write to us on WhatsApp — messages are easy to translate both ways, and it means we can understand your symptoms before you arrive. Many visitors manage the consultation with a translation app, or bring a Spanish-speaking friend or relative.

About 30 minutes north of central San Salvador, in Apopa. We are not downtown and not near the airport. If you are staying in the north of the city or with family in Apopa we are close; from Escalón or the coast it is a real drive, so message us first and we will tell you honestly whether it is worth the trip.

Most drips run about 60 minutes. Plan for roughly 90 minutes including the medical assessment beforehand.

Yes, always. Every IV therapy begins with a medical assessment. An unsuitable drip can be harmful, especially with heart or kidney conditions — so we evaluate first, then treat.

Often yes. Message us on WhatsApp before you travel over and we will confirm availability so you do not make the trip for nothing.

Sterile, single-use disposable materials on every application, administered under medical supervision by Dra. Ena Merlos, a physician with 16 years of experience.

Before you come

The practical part

Said plainly, so you can decide whether it's worth the trip.

About 30 minutes from central San SalvadorWe're in Apopa, north of the city — not downtown, not near the airport. If you're staying in Escalón or Zona Rosa it's a real drive. If you're staying with family in the north of the city, we're close.
No appointmentWalk in during opening hours and you'll be seen in order of arrival. Message first if you'd rather not wait.
Bring your passport and your medicationAny prescription you're already taking, plus allergies. A photo on your phone is fine. If you have travel insurance, bring the policy number — we can give you a receipt to claim against.
Message before you travel across the cityDescribe what's wrong on WhatsApp and we'll tell you honestly whether it's worth coming, whether it can wait, or whether you should go straight to a hospital instead.

When we're open

Monday, Wednesday, Friday — 8:00 in the morning until midnight.
Tuesday, Thursday — 8:00 in the morning until 6:00 in the evening.
Saturday and Sunday — closed.

The three late nights are the unusual part. Almost nothing else in Apopa is open at 10pm, so if you get ill in the evening on a Monday, Wednesday or Friday, you can still see a doctor the same day.

Ill outside those hours?

Message us on WhatsApp anyway — +503 7450-8530. Even when the clinic is closed we'll read it and tell you where to go. If it's serious, we'll say so and point you to the nearest hospital rather than have you wait for us to open.

If you have chest pain, difficulty breathing, uncontrolled bleeding or you can't stay awake, don't message anyone — call 911 or go to the nearest hospital now.

Clínica Familiar Eliette and Farmacia ABBÁ · Apopa, El Salvador

Get in touch

Message us, or book below

If you're unwell right now, WhatsApp is faster and you'll get a person. The form is for booking ahead.

We reply on WhatsApp, usually the same day.

Feel better before your next stop

Message us on WhatsApp — in English or Spanish — and we will confirm a time today. Walk-ins welcome during clinic hours.

Book on WhatsApp
WhatsApp