Doctors appointment

Hello Erikableu!

Your thread is now on the Lisbon forum.

Cheers,

Cheryl

thank you

@Erikableu!,

Doctors usually make prescriptions to expats based on examinations, analyses and medical reports. If they have access to your medical history, they can prescribe medication for chronic illnesses. The problem is that this information should be in english (or maybe in french or spanish).... if it's in another language, I doubt they'll accept it...

To have access to the national health system, you must be resident in Portugal. You have some support here (1).

If you urgently need to see a doctor, please use the private system. I suggest the CUF group. Each consultation costs between 90 and 110 euros, without international insurance.

https://www.cuf.pt/hospitais-e-clinicas

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(1) Access to the National Health System:

https://www.expat.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=902977

(2) Private Healthcare System in Portugal

https://www.expat.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=914196

@Erikableu!

You need to register witht he local health centre, they will assign a GP for you, and you, long waiting time before you can receive a consultation. after being registered and getting a health number "SNS number" your prescription drugs will be almost free. Your GP will be sending you via email or sms the prescription. then you can go to any pharmacy and buy them .

In order to register with the local health centre you will be required to show a proof of residenc here, you can get this by contacting the Câmara municipal of your area, they will give you a form to fill in and you need to get two witness portugueses from your building or area to say you live here .

@Erikableu!

I use an international clinic in the Algarve who's charges are very affordable and with your US meds as prescribed they send documentation to a pharmacy to fill your scrips again at an affordable price.

Well, about registering with SNS -- that could be entirely valid in some part of the country, as these matters don't seem to be entirely consistent for everyone, but the story here is different.

You can and should register with SNS.  They'll tell you what you need (an atestado de residência won't likely be any use here.)  They will eventually get you enrolled, and that's important if you want to register a medical exam for driver's license if you're old, if you want to get vaccinated etc.

They likely will not assign a family doctor or GP, though, in parts of the country where these professionals are in short supply.  That kind of attention is, as suggested above, going to be provided through through private providers like CUF, for which you would want private medical insurance.

They likely will not assign a family doctor or GP, though, in parts of the country where these professionals are in short supply. That kind of attention is, as suggested above, going to be provided through through private providers like CUF, for which you would want private medical insurance. - @donn25

I largely agree, but whether or not one needs private insurance only depends on the financial means. I know people that pay everything out of pocket without involving an insurance. I personally do have insurance because I am used to having one.