The Healthcare System in Portugal

expat network

The Healthcare System in Portugal

The National Health System, Servico Nacional de Saude (SNS) is administered to by the Ministry of Health, Ministério de Saúde. It is reliable, but not necessarily consistent in its standard of care or comparable to other Western European or North American countries.

It provides comprehensive care to the community with care services relative to each citizen’s economic needs. Emergency treatment and vital medication are free, but public hospitals and clinics tend to be overcrowded with long waiting lists.

In Lisbon, if you need first aid or other emergency procedures, ask directions to the nearest Centro de Enfermagem.

Dental care
Dental care is satisfactory but quite expensive. Many expatriates elect to have treatment in their home countries; however, there are English-speaking dentists in the Lisbon area.

Expatriate care
Many expatriates prefer to use private medical clinics, even if they are more costly. If you are employed in Portugal, your employer will deduct contributions to the health system from your salary, thus entitling you to free-state health care. If you are not covered by a company policy, it is recommended that you obtain private medical insurance for you and your family, since the cost of private medical care is so high.

Seek advice from your primary physician about hospital treatment; the proper specialist is often more important than the choice of hospital.

Hospitals and clinics
Government hospital services in Lisbon may be poorly equipped, overcrowded, and badly managed. Non-emergency treatment is free to foreigners whose home countries have a reciprocal agreement with Portugal. There are a number of international hospitals, and clinics that are available in and around Lisbon/Cascais. Private hospitals are generally satisfactory for uncomplicated medical procedures, minor surgery, and routine obstetrical care.

At private clinics and hospitals, all treatment must be paid for in full at the time of service. You can apply for any refunds from your private insurance company later.

Information courtesy of Living Abroad, www.livingabroad.com

Moving Abroad Checklist

Initial Considerations

Will your partner be travelling with you?

If so, what will they be giving up in your present home and will they be able to continue with their career in your new home? You will need to check whether a separate visa is required for your partner to work or if your visa gives that right. If they are unable to work you will need to decide on the effect on your finances and what alternatives are available to give a fulfilling life (home business, training, voluntary work).

Are you taking family with you?

Moving with family raises many exciting opportunities, but also can create challenges. The HSBC Expat Explorer survey indicates that expat kids can take six months to settle in to their new country (see article). Getting young or even older children to prepare to move and leave their friends and family behind can be a challenge and should be thought through.

The options for education is another area that needs to be thought through.

Moving your child to a new country with a different education system can be a great opportunity to broaden their experience, but if they are close to key exams the timing can make this inadvisable. If you do take your family with you, it is important to decide between joining the local school system or choosing an international school.

Where will you be living?

Whether you will be living in a house or apartment, furnished or unfurnished, these decisions will affect what you need to take with you. The time you are planning to live overseas will also affect whether you should leave your property at home empty, rent it out or sell it. See the article Sell, Store or Ship.