Healthcare in Portugal
Get to know the most important aspects related to healthcare in Portugal. What are the standards, and is it expensive? Learn more!
Article by Viv Europe - Official Legal and Relocation Partner to KipperTree.
25 07 2023
Read the full article here
Getting to know healthcare in Portugal is one of the main things to do even before moving. With more than 600,000 foreigners residing in the country, Portugal and its public health system guarantee everyone excellent service. But how does healthcare in Portugal work? Do expats really have access to it? What about health insurance?
Let’s clear all these questions related to the subject. In this article, we’ll talk about the standards of healthcare in Portugal, how to access it, and whether insurance is something you should be concerned about.
They don’t call Portugal one of the safest and most peaceful countries to live in for no reason. Find out why retirees and tourists trust this country enough to relocate entirely and keep coming back for more! Happy reading.
What is healthcare in Portugal like?
It is a well-known fact that health systems in Europe are, in general, one of the best and most modern in the world. They are also somewhat socialized, and the idea of insurance, although also valid, is less necessary or of ulterior importance than, say, in the USA or Brazilian model.
Portugal is not an exception to this fact: this country has both a public and private system of health. However, the public parcel of healthcare is by far the most used and functions quite well, apart from one or two exceptions.
It is called Sistema Nacional de Saúde (SNS), which translates to National Health System. It has universal access; that is, anyone in the country can access the services, whether Portuguese or not.
Here’s a list of some services that public hospitals in Portugal offer:
Emergencies
Maternity care
Nursing
Dental
Post-OP care
Psychiatric care
Intensive outpatient program
Fatal diseases care
Is healthcare in Portugal considered good?
As per the World Index of Healthcare Innovation (WIHI), the quality of Portugal’s healthcare system ranks third best for in-patient care and medical infrastructure. The country takes international standards and quality very seriously.
Other research shows that Portugal’s healthcare is ranked higher than that of Greece, Italy, China, Brazil, South Korea, the United Arab Emirates, and many more. This shows why expat retirees are more than happy to live here!
Even though public hospitals are of good quality, it takes much longer to be catered to. Always do your own research before going in for a procedure, and consult your family doctor first.
Public Healthcare in Portugal
Portugal has an organigram that shares responsibilities regarding the different aspects of healthcare and services for the public.
The main urban centres in the country have large Public Hospitals to meet all demands, especially more complex ones. In addition to these, there are also Health and Extension Centers for less populated areas. We will explain in more detail how they work below.
Health centres
In these health centres, Family Doctors – general doctors assigned to a household – perform regular appointments, and it’s also where most vaccinations and consultations occur.
In some Health Centers, there are also Basic Emergency Services, but very serious cases are sent to the nearest Hospital.
The norm is that every citizen has the right to a Family Doctor to monitor their health. However, there are some exceptions to the rule. Especially in the Algarve and Alentejo regions, the Portuguese Public Health System usually receives complaints about the lack of doctors.
It may take you many months, or even years, to get one of these doctors, but you do manage to be seen by other doctors on duty.
Public Hospitals
The Hospitals, particularly District Main Hospitals, also perform consultations, but these are normally more specialized. They are also where the most infirm patients are interned and where emergencies occur.
In addition to these, there are also hospitals with some specific specialization, which are a reference in the country. These are usually located either in Lisbon or in Porto. Take a look at the most renowned public hospitals in Portugal:
Central Lisbon Hospital Center (Dona Estefania Hospital);
Porto Hospital Center (Santo Antonio General Hospital);
Portuguese Institute of Oncology in Lisbon;
Barlavento Algarvio Hospital Center (Portimão);
Braga Hospital;
Coimbra Hospital Center;
Hospital do Espírito Santo de Evora;
Setúbal Hospital Center;
Faro District Hospital.
How much are the consultation fees in Portugal?
From June 2022 onwards, all primary health care consultations in the Portuguese public service became free, that is, without any taxas moderadoras (moderating fees). Thus, all legal residents of Portugal are eligible for free public healthcare regardless of their nationality.
Public healthcare in Portugal operates under a cost-sharing regime between the patient and the State. So much for the access to the family doctor, specialized outpatient clinic, and internment. In addition, the State shares the price of medicines according to different levels.
An unreferenced emergency in a public hospital would have a fee of around €14, while an emergency surgery would cost around €16.
If you cannot afford the costs, requesting an exemption from payment of user fees is possible. In the group of people exempt from payment, there are:
Pregnant women;
Seniors;
Minors;
Blood donors;
People with renal problems;
Firefighters;
Unemployed.
If by some unfortunate circumstance, you need surgery, you are exempt from paying.
Using SNS 24
Every public healthcare patient in Portugal has a personalized and structured history of consultations, exams, vaccines, and so on that are shared with private healthcare and among doctors. This facilitates diagnosis and communication between hospitals, health centres, and private doctors.
The Portuguese National Health System is responsible for this. Especially in recent years, after the pandemic, healthcare in Portugal has evolved very quickly. Now appointments are more easily scheduled and even performed over the Internet or over the phone with your family doctor.
You also have access to all records via the SNS 24 app, which shows you what vaccines and appointments you had, what fees you paid, what medications you have a prescription for, and so on.
To find out how ex-pats use the health service continue reading here.