Sun, heat, ice cream, and “Pasteis de Nata” are all in the air these days. Whether you’re discovering the city on your own or with your toddlers, whether you’re a student in the Portuguese capital, or just passing through on a business trip, you might have to see a doctor in Lisbon.
Ola, this is Dr. Joy and here is all you need to know about public and private healthcare in lisbon.
Vamos!
See a doctor in Lisbon’s public hospitals
If you are a European citizen, you only need to show your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) and an ID to get treatment in Portuguese public hospitals.
With these two documents, you will be treated in a public medical centre or hospital without any problem.
Health centres, or centro de saude
In Portugal, health care is mainly provided by “centros de saúde”.
Each parish or “freguesia” in Portugal have a centro de saude where you can go for first aid. There are several in Lisbon.
Just go there, show your EHIC and your ID, and check-in at the reception desk. You can consult a doctor there.
There are no specialists in these centres, but if necessary, the doctor will refer you to the appropriate professional.
In any case, the centro de saude is an obligatory stopover to see a specialist in the public sector.
If you need nursing care during your stay, you should go to these centres too if you do not want to pay anything.
Hospitals and permanent care services, or serviço de atendimento permanente
Have you tripped on the Lisbon pavement and are worried about a sprain?
In emergencies like this you can :
- Call 112, the European emergency number
- Call 800 296 296, the tourist assistance service
- Go to the nearest permanent care service (Serviço de Atendimento Permanente, SAP) or hospital.
Some public hospitals in Lisbon:
- Hospital de São José
- Hospital de Santa Maria
- Hospital de São Francisco Xavier
- Hospital Santa Marta
- Hospital de Egas Moniz
- Hospital de Santo António dos Capuchos
- Hospital Dona Estefânia (for children)
It should be noted, however, that waiting times for treatment are generally very long in the public sector.
See a doctor in private medical centres in Lisbon
If you want to reduce the waiting time for your appointments then you can turn to private medical centres and clinics. They are not free but their facilities are state-of-the-art, with modern equipment.
In these establishments, you will have to pay in advance to be reimbursed once back in your country, but the reimbursement depends from one insurance policy to another.
Alegria Medical Centre, a clinic dedicated to internationals in Lisbon. The centre was founded to provide medical responses in several languages to patients living in or visiting Portugal. There, you can see a family doctor and receive nursing care in the day, with short waiting time. Teleconsultation also is available.
You can make an appointment with an english speaking doctor here.
A real plus when you have to explain a health problem and you are worried, or if you want to be treated quickly and enjoy the rest or your trip.
Getting reimbursed in your country after getting treatment in Lisbon
To make it easier to get reimbursed for medical expenses in Europe, and therefore in Lisbon, here are some options.
The European Health Insurance Card
You can apply for it before your trip. The EHIC certifies your entitlement to your country’s social security. When on holiday or a short stay in Europe, it is strongly recommended that you obtain it. It is free, individual, and nominative.
The EHIC is valid for a maximum of 2 years and must be applied at least 20 days before departure.
You are leaving in just a few days and you haven’t thought about it?
Calmaaaaa. I have the solution!
Apply anyway and a provisional replacement certificate will be issued to you. This is valid for 3 months.
The EHIC gives you access to all the country’s health professionals and hospitals under the same conditions and at the same price as those who benefit from the Portuguese social security.
Sometimes, coverage is immediate, with no advance payment. But from one country to another, health systems vary greatly. It is, therefore, possible that you will have to pay and in this case, you will be reimbursed in your country.
For this, certain documents are necessary.
Checklist of documents not to forget
Getting reimbursed in your country?!! Don’t panic, it’s not the headache you might think. All you need to do is put together :
- The invoice
- Proof of payment (e.g. credit card receipt)
- Medical report
And send the whole to your health insurer when you get home
However, only treatments which you are entitled to receive at home will be reimbursed and only up to the cost of treatment in your home country, which may be less than you paid for the treatment
And that’s it, I’m done with the different establishments to see a doctor in Lisbon.
If you have any questions or suggestions, we are at your disposal to answer your general, medical, and administrative questions. Please contact us.
Beijinhos, Dr. Joy!
