Finding a Health Centre in Portugal — Centro de Saúde

What Is a Centro de Saúde?

A centro de saúde is a public primary care health centre run by Portugal’s National Health Service (Serviço Nacional de Saúde, or SNS). These centres are the foundation of healthcare in Portugal and the first point of contact for most medical needs.

Centros de saúde are organised into groups called ACES (Agrupamentos de Centros de Saúde) and are spread across every municipality in the country. Within each centro de saúde, you may find smaller units called USF (Unidade de Saúde Familiar) or UCSP (Unidade de Cuidados de Saúde Personalizados), which are the teams that actually provide your day-to-day care.

Services typically available at a centro de saúde include:

• General medical consultations with your family doctor
• Nursing services (wound care, injections, blood pressure checks)
• Vaccinations (including the national vaccination programme)
• Maternal and child health (pregnancy monitoring, paediatric check-ups)
• Chronic disease management (diabetes, hypertension)
• Mental health referrals
• Family planning and reproductive health
• Referrals to hospital specialists and diagnostic tests

How to Find Your Health Centre

Your assigned centro de saúde is determined by where you live — specifically, your postcode and parish (freguesia). You cannot freely choose any health centre; you must register at the one covering your residential area.

To find your health centre:

• SNS Portal: Visit sns.gov.pt and search for health centres by location or postcode.
• MySNS app: Download the MySNS Tempos app to find nearby health centres and check current waiting times.
• Call Saúde 24: Phone 808 24 24 24 and a nurse can help you identify the correct health centre for your address.
• Ask your Junta de Freguesia: Your local parish council can tell you which centro de saúde serves your area.

How to Register (Inscrição)

Before you can use your centro de saúde, you need to register — a process called inscrição. This is a one-time administrative step that enrolls you in the SNS at your local health centre.

What to Bring

• Identification: Passport, citizen card (cartão de cidadão), or residence permit
• NIF (Número de Identificação Fiscal) — your Portuguese tax number
• NISS (Número de Identificação de Segurança Social) — your social security number, if you have one
• Proof of address: A utility bill, rental contract, or atestado de residência from your Junta de Freguesia
• SNS user number: If you have already registered with the SNS online or through another health centre

Getting a Family Doctor (Médico de Família)

When you register at your centro de saúde, you will ideally be assigned a médico de família (family doctor). This is your primary care physician — the doctor you see for routine consultations, ongoing health management, prescriptions, and referrals to specialists.

Your family doctor works within a team (USF or UCSP) that also includes nurses and administrative staff. Having a family doctor means you have continuity of care — someone who knows your medical history and can coordinate your treatment.

What If You Don’t Have a Family Doctor?

Due to a shortage of general practitioners in Portugal, not everyone is immediately assigned a family doctor. If you are placed on a waiting list, you still have the right to access healthcare through your centro de saúde.

Options when you don’t have an assigned family doctor:

• Consulta aberta (walk-in appointment): Most centros de saúde offer walk-in consultations for patients without a family doctor. Arrive early, as slots are limited and allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.
• Saúde 24: Call 808 24 24 24 for medical advice. Nurses can assess your situation by phone and refer you to the appropriate service.
• Request reassignment: Ask at your centro de saúde about your position on the waiting list. If a doctor becomes available or a new USF opens in your area, you may be assigned sooner.

Appointments & Walk-Ins

If you have a family doctor, you can book appointments through several channels:

• By phone: Call your centro de saúde directly during office hours
• In person: Visit the reception desk to schedule your next appointment
• Online: Some health centres allow appointment booking through the SNS Portal or the MySNS app

For urgent but non-emergency situations, the consulta aberta (open consultation) is available at most health centres. This is a walk-in service, typically available in the morning. No appointment is needed, but you may wait depending on demand. Consulta aberta is particularly useful if your regular doctor is unavailable or you do not yet have one assigned.

Referrals to Hospital Specialists

In Portugal’s public health system, access to specialist doctors at hospitals generally requires a referral from your family doctor or a doctor at your centro de saúde. This is known as a consulta de referência.

When your family doctor determines you need specialist care (for example, cardiology, dermatology, or orthopaedics), they submit a referral through the system. You will then be contacted by the hospital to schedule your appointment. Wait times vary depending on the speciality, the hospital, and the clinical priority of your case.

Opening Hours & Contact

Most centros de saúde operate during standard working hours:

• Monday to Friday: Typically 8:00 to 20:00 (hours vary by location)
• Weekends and holidays: Usually closed. For medical needs outside these hours, call Saúde 24 or visit the nearest hospital emergency department.

Some health centres in larger cities may offer extended hours or Saturday morning consultations. Check directly with your centro de saúde for their specific schedule.

Saúde 24 Helpline

Saúde 24 is Portugal’s national health helpline, staffed by nurses and available 24 hours a day, every day of the year.

• Phone number: 808 24 24 24
• What it does: Provides medical advice over the phone, helps you decide whether to visit a health centre or emergency room, and can refer you to the appropriate service
• Languages: Available in Portuguese and English
• Cost: Local call rate from a Portuguese phone

Saúde 24 is especially useful at night, on weekends, or when you are unsure whether your symptoms require urgent attention. Calling before going to a hospital emergency room can save you hours of waiting if your situation can be handled by other means.

Common Questions

What is a centro de saúde in Portugal?

A centro de saúde is a public primary care health centre run by Portugal’s National Health Service (SNS). It provides general consultations, vaccinations, maternal and child health, chronic disease management, and referrals to hospital specialists. Every resident in Portugal is entitled to register at the centro de saúde in their area.

How do I find my local health centre?

You can find your assigned centro de saúde through the SNS Portal by entering your postcode or parish (freguesia). You can also call Saúde 24 on 808 24 24 24 for help locating your health centre. Your centro de saúde is determined by where you live, not where you work.

What if I don’t have a family doctor assigned?

If no family doctor is available, you can still use your centro de saúde. Walk-in appointments (consulta aberta) are available for people without a family doctor. You can also call Saúde 24 on 808 24 24 24 for medical guidance and to be referred if needed.

Can I register at a centro de saúde without a residence permit?

Yes. Portuguese law allows anyone residing in Portugal to access the SNS, regardless of immigration status. You need proof of address in Portugal. Undocumented residents can register through their local Junta de Freguesia, which can issue an atestado de residência to help with registration.

What is Saúde 24?

Saúde 24 is Portugal’s health helpline, available 24 hours a day at 808 24 24 24. Nurses provide medical advice over the phone, help you decide whether you need to visit a health centre or emergency room, and can refer you to the appropriate service. The service is available in Portuguese and English.