In 2002, the health care system in Portugal has been going through a major and long awaited reform. Simply put the National Health Service in the United Kingdom, the free health service in Portugal has been suffering from under the investment, over subscription and is also buckling right under inefficiency.
On the other hand, it is still fortunate and it is all because of the sweeping changes made right under the reform, the basic aims of reforms are
totally met and the health care trends in Portugal are totally improving.
The two basic aims of the reform are made to deliver better and good quality health care service for the entire eligible residents in Portugal but without any sort of extra cost into the tax payer or the Government. Apart from those, it could also be lower into the annual growth rate of public spending in the health care sector.
If you are looking forward to visit Portugal and you come from any European Union member country, you will be entitled to get free health care under the EU reciprocal health agreements. United Kingdom residents are needed to take up E111 form from the United Kingdom and try to submit it once the health care is needed throughout your stay in the country.
On the other hand, the E111 form and the other EU equivalents are only acceptable for a certain set of period. If you intended to remain in Portugal past the date or you consider moving up to Portugal just to live for full time or you come from a non EU country then your right will then change.
Typically, any resident of Portugal is then entitled for free basic health care right under the Portuguese Health System. It includes free important medicines, free GP appointments and more. If you also work in Portugal and pay into the social security in the country you automatically become entitled for the free hospital treatment.
Just like in United Kingdom, the non essential medicines are not free. In Portugal, you only pay between 40 and 100% of the medicine cost. Unlike in the United States, you could get more medicines off prescription that takes out the hassles of waiting for a doctor’s appointment if you already know what your illness really is.