Healthcare system

The Portuguese healthcare system is characterized by three coexisting, overlapping systems: the National Healthcare System (NHS), special public and private insurance schemes for certain professions (health subsystems), and private voluntary health insurance. The healthcare delivery system in Portugal consists of a network of public and private health care providers; each of them is connected to the patients in its own way.

The National Healthcare System covers primary, hospital, ambulatory and continuous care (long-term care). The National Healthcare System is managed by the Ministry of Health. There are private healthcare services that have a contract with the National Healthcare System and have the same costs for the patient as public healthcare. For non-contracted private health services the costs of treatment are paid in full by the patient.

Accessing care

You can obtain medically necessary treatment by presenting the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), when you are temporarily staying in Portugal. Medically necessary treatment refers to treatment that cannot wait for your return home. You may need such treatment in case of acute illness or accident. You can also receive treatment related to pregnancy and childbirth or to a chronic illness. The need for treatment must emerge during the course of your stay.

You will receive treatment on the same terms and at the same price as the locals. It is advisable to carry copies of your European Health Insurance Card with you, along with the card itself. If you didn’t have your EHIC with you or it was not accepted, and you were required to pay all the costs of treatment yourself, you might be able to apply for reimbursement from Kela retrospectively.

Information about places of treatment and reimbursements can be obtained in mainland Portugal from the Regional Health Administration (Administração Regional de Saúde). Contact information for Regional Health Administrations are listed in the European Commission website.

Madeira and the Azores have their own practices, which you can enquire about from the Health Service of Madeira (SESARAM) in Funchal and from the Regional Directorate for Health of the Azores (SAUDAÇOR) in Angra do Heroismo.

Sudden illness

Doctor

In need of a doctor in mainland Portugal, go to the nearest health centre (Centro de Saúde). The health centres provide general practitioners. Show your European Health Insurance Card and ID and ask to receive treatment in accordance with EU provisions. You will then pay a standard fee (taxa moderadora) for your treatment. The fees vary depending on the procedure. Medical care is free in some cases for example for children under the age of 18, pregnant women, the chronically ill and pensioners.

In urgent cases, you can go to the permanent emergency service (Serviço Atendimento Permanente, SAP), which is open 24 hours a day, or to a hospital.

Dentist

There are a limited number of public dental services, and a standard fee for treatment must be paid in accordance with the procedure.

Medication

When you collect prescription medication prescribed by a doctor in Portugal from a pharmacy (farmácia), present your European Health Insurance Card. You will then receive a reimbursement for the costs of some medication. The level depends on, among other things, the seriousness of the illness being treated.

Hospital treatment

Usually, you need a doctor’s referral for hospital treatment. At the hospital, show your European Health Insurance Card and ID and ask to receive treatment in accordance with EU provisions. You will pay a standard fee (taxa moderadora) for your treatment. The fees vary depending on the procedure. Patient transport in an emergency is free of charge.

If your illness requires you to use special transport when returning to Finland, you will be liable for the travel costs in their entirety. You are recommended to take out a travel insurance that covers these costs.

Read more about suddenly falling ill in Europe.

Read more about reimbursement of costs of treatment abroad.

Useful websites

If you wish to travel to Portugal for the purpose of using healthcare services you can find general information on seeking treatment abroad on our site. Some useful websites concerning seeking treatment in Portugal are listed below.

You can find private healthcare service providers operating in Portugal most easily through internet search engines. There are more private hospitals and medical centres in larger towns and tourist areas, such as Lisbon, Porto, Cascais and Algarve. Advice on finding public and private service providers can also be found on the website of the Contact Point of Portugal.

You can also search for healthcare professionals registered with Portugal´s medical, dental and nurses associations from the following search services

• Ordem dos enfermeiros (nurses)
• Ordem dos Médicos doctor search service by speciality and on the basis of geographical area
• Ordem dos Médicos Dentistas search service for dentists by area and locality

If you are unable to find the name you are looking for through the Medical Association´s search service, you can contact the Portuguese Medical Association by email at omcne(at)omcne.pt.

Quality and safety of treatment

The Portuguese Medical Association monitors the competence and legality of the activities of physicians. If you have doubts about the doctor´s competence, you can contact the Medical Association, Ordem dos Medicos directly.

Information about healthcare quality control, complaint procedures and clinical standards are available on the website of the Contact Point of Portugal.

In the event of treatment injuries, the legislation and patient insurance of the country providing the treatment is always applied. In case you are unhappy with the treatment you received, you should primarily try to sort the matter out with the treatment provider. The national contact point can help you with finding the right authority if you wish to make a complaint.