Medicine in Portugal: SNS, insurance and private clinics

How the Portuguese healthcare system works

Portugal has two parallel systems: the public SNS and the private sector. They do not replace, but complement each other.

SNS (Serviço Nacional de Saúde) is the national health service. It is financed from taxes and covers the entire population of the country. Foreigners with a residence permit have every right to SNS.

The private sector means clinics that work faster and more comfortably. Most expats use it. Insurance covers most of the costs.

Pharmacies operate throughout the country. Each area has a pharmacy on duty, open at night and on weekends. Prescriptions for most drugs are required.

SNS: public medicine for residents

After receiving a residence permit, you can register with SNS. To do this, you need to contact the nearest health center (Centro de Saúde) with resident documents.

SNS gives access to a general practitioner, specialists, hospitalization and emergency care. Basic services are either free or cost a symbolic €5-7 (taxas moderadoras).

The main disadvantage of SNS is queues. An appointment with a family doctor may take 2-4 weeks. To a specialist - from 1 to 6 months. Sometimes they wait a year for elective surgeries.

SNS works well in emergency situations. The ambulance (112) will arrive free of charge. The reception department will accept you at any time of the day. But for routine medicine, most residents choose the private sector.

Private insurance: types and costs

Private health insurance in Portugal is standard for most expats. It gives access to the best clinics without queues.

Three main insurers:

• Médis - the largest network, covering almost all private clinics in the country
• Multicare - convenient application, fast reimbursement
• Fidelidade - flexible packages, dentistry can be included

The cost depends on age and set of services:

Insurance usually covers 70-100% of the cost of visits, tests, examinations and hospitalization. Dentistry is a separate module (+€15-25/month).

When applying for a residence permit, insurance will be required as a mandatory document. Many people take out an international policy for the first year, then switch to Portuguese.

Prices for medicine in Portugal 2026

Specific numbers will help you plan your budget. All prices are for private clinics without insurance.

With insurance, you only pay a deductible: €10-20 for a visit to a therapist, €20-30 for a specialist. The main amount goes directly to the clinic.

Medicines in pharmacies are partially subsidized by the state. For chronic diseases the discount reaches 69%. A package of antibiotics costs €3-8, painkillers €2-5.

The best private clinics in Portugal

The private sector in Portugal is of a high level. The equipment is modern, the staff speaks English.

CUF - the largest private network in the country. There are clinics in Lisbon, Porto, Sintra, Setubal and other cities. Full range of services: from pediatrics to oncology. English is everywhere. Website: cuf.pt.

Lusíadas Saúde - the second largest network. Modern hospitals in Lisbon and Porto. Specializes in complex cases: cardiology, neurosurgery, oncology.

Hospital da Luz - flagship hospital in Lisbon. Included in European quality ratings. Often chosen for major operations.

Trofa Saúde - a network with an emphasis on affordable prices. Well represented in Porto and the north of the country.

Government hospitals are also very good. Hospital de Santa Maria (Lisbon) and Hospital de São João (Porto) are academic centers with modern equipment. It's free to get there, but you'll have to wait longer.

Ambulance and emergency medicine

The emergency number in Portugal is 112. It operates 24 hours a day and is free for everyone.

Emergency departments (urgência) of public hospitals accept patients without appointments. You will be accepted regardless of your insurance or residence permit - emergency assistance is guaranteed by law.

You'll have to wait in Urgência. In large cities during rush hours - 3-6 hours for non-critical cases. Patients are sorted by color: red (immediate), orange (10 minutes), yellow (30-60 minutes), green (2-4 hours).

Urgência works faster in private clinics. If you have insurance, CUF or Lusíadas will see you in 30-60 minutes. The cost of a visit to a private urgência without insurance is €80-150.

What to apply for immediately after receiving a residence permit

After obtaining a residence permit, there is a clear procedure for medical procedures. It's better to do everything at once.

Step 1: registration in SNS. Go to the nearest Centro de Saúde with a residence permit and NIF (tax number). You will be assigned an SNS user number. This will take 20-40 minutes.

Step 2: choosing a family doctor. Through the mysns.pt portal, you can select a medical center and queue up to be assigned to a therapist. Sometimes this takes several months.

Step 3: obtaining insurance. At the same time, take out private insurance. It’s better to go through an insurance broker - he will select a rate that suits your age and budget.

Step 4: dentistry. SNS only partially covers dental care. Immediately look for a private dentist or take out a dental module from your insurance.

Important: prescriptions from Portuguese doctors are valid in all pharmacies in the country. If you have a chronic disease, refill your prescription with your local doctor. This will reduce the price of medicines.

Also check how your insurance works abroad. If you travel often, take out a policy with coverage in Europe.

Dentistry in Portugal

Dentistry in SNS is very limited. Only pregnant women, children and pensioners are treated free of charge under special programs. All the rest are for money.

Private dentists are available everywhere. Prices are lower than in Northern Europe, but higher than in Eastern Europe.

Many clinics offer discounts on your first visit or when you pay for a course of treatment up front. Ask about this at your appointment.

Childbirth and pediatrics in Portugal

Portugal is a good place to have a baby. The perinatal care system is developed and reliable.

In the state system, pregnancy care and childbirth are free for residents. But in state maternity hospitals, conditions are more modest: general wards, limited choice of doctors.

In private clinics everything is different. Private room, doctor of your choice, presence of a partner. The cost of childbirth is €3000-5000 including stay. Caesarean section - €4000-6500.

Pediatrics in private clinics: visit to a pediatrician €60-90. Vaccination according to the national calendar is free on SNS. Private vaccinations (eg meningococcus B) - €80-120 per dose.

A child born in Portugal to residents does not automatically receive citizenship. But he gets access to SNS and the right to education.

Psychological assistance and mental health

Psychotherapy in Portugal is developed. Especially in large cities - Lisbon and Porto.

SNS has psychologists, but the waiting list for them is 3-6 months. A private psychologist accepts without a queue.

Prices for a private psychologist: €60-100 per session. Online formats are slightly cheaper. Insurance sometimes covers up to 10-20 sessions per year.

Many psychologists in Lisbon and Porto work in Russian or English. This is important for those who have recently moved.

Adapting to a new country is a real stress. Do not delay contacting a specialist if you feel anxious or apathetic.

Pharmacies: how they work and what you need to know

Pharmacies (Farmácia) in Portugal are a different story. There are many of them, they are well equipped, and the pharmacists really help with the choice.

Schedule: most pharmacies are open from 9:00 to 19:00-20:00. Each area has an on-duty pharmacy (farmácia de serviço), which is open at night and on weekends. Her address can be seen on the sign of any pharmacy or on the website ordinafarmaceutica.pt.

They sell without a prescription: paracetamol, ibuprofen, antihistamines, vitamins, decongestants. With a prescription: antibiotics, sleeping pills, most serious drugs.

Prices are subsidized by the state. For some medications there is a 15-69% discount on the retail price. You receive the subsidy automatically if you have an SNS number.

Important: if you are bringing drugs with a prescription from Russia, check their status in Portugal. Some medications are prohibited here or require a local prescription.

Portugal for people with chronic illnesses

Moving with a chronic illness requires preparation. Portugal is a very suitable country for such cases.

Cardiology: Hospital de Santa Marta (Lisbon) and Hospital de São João (Porto) are leading centers. In private clinics CUF and Lusíadas - a full cycle from diagnosis to surgery.

Oncology: Instituto Português de Oncologia (IPO) in Lisbon and Porto are specialized public centers. Treatment is free for diagnosed residents.

Diabetes: Insulin and test strips are subsidized by 85-100% when registering with SNS. Endocrinologist in a private clinic - €100-130 per visit.

Dialysis: government centers accept patients with residence permits. Private clinics - €150-200 per session without insurance.

The climate of Portugal is mild - this is a plus for people with diseases of the joints, respiratory system, and skin. There are practically no cold winters here.

Comparison: Portugal vs other EU countries

How does medicine in Portugal compare to its neighbors?

Portugal is one of the most affordable countries in Western Europe in terms of medical expenses. At the same time, the quality of private medicine is comparable to Spain and France.

According to the Numbeo healthcare index, Portugal is consistently ranked among the top 25 global systems. Source: numbeo.com.

How to choose a doctor and check a clinic

Before your first visit, you should make sure that the clinic and the doctor operate legally.

All doctors in Portugal must be registered with the Ordem dos Médicos. You can check it on the website ordemdosmedicos.pt - enter the doctor’s name and see his specialization and status.

The clinics are accredited by the ERS (Entidade Reguladora da Saúde). The list of accredited institutions is on the website ers.pt.

Practical advice when choosing:

• Ask if the doctor accepts your insurance - this will save money
• Check if the doctor speaks English (if you don’t speak Portuguese)
• Read reviews on Google Maps - the Portuguese actively write them
• Ask for an estimate before starting treatment - this is normal practice.

If you do not understand Portuguese, hire a medical translator for complex consultations. Cost - €30-50 per session. It's cheaper than misunderstanding the diagnosis.

Residence permit in Portugal and access to medicine

Medicine is one of the main arguments in favor of a Portuguese residence permit. Once you receive resident status, you become part of the SNS system.

Portugal offers several residence permit programs for investors and high net worth individuals. Golden Visa opens the way to permanent residence and citizenship after 5 years. More information about the programs is on the page Portugal residence permit for investors.

With a residence permit you and your family receive:

• Access to SNS - state medicine
• The right to purchase local insurance without restrictions
• Subsidized medicines in pharmacies
• Free vaccination according to the national calendar

Without a residence permit, you can only receive emergency assistance. Planned treatment at SNS is for residents only.