New to the capital city and wondering where is the closest hospital in Lisbon? There are both public and private hospitals in the capital. The public system is financed by the State, through the National Health Service (SNS). To have access to it, however, you’ll need an SNS number (see here how to obtain one). The private system is run by private corporations, and the cost of the services is higher than with the SNS.
Want to know a hospital in Lisbon?
The SNS hospitals in Lisbon are divided into three centres: The Northern Lisbon University Hospital Centre; the Central Lisbon University Hospital Centre and the Western Lisbon Hospital Centre. Each is composed of at least two hospitals.
Northern Lisbon University Hospital Centre
As the name states, this hospital centre serves the northern part of the capital and includes the Pulido Valente Hospital, which is currently the largest in Portugal for treating lung cancer and patients with respiratory problems, as well as the Santa Maria Hospital – a university hospital which is also one of the largest in the country.
The hospital centre covers the areas of Alvalade, Avenidas Novas, Benfica, Campolide, Carnide, Lumiar, Santa Clara and São Domingos de Benfica.
Central Lisbon University Hospital Centre
This centre is composed of six hospitals: São José, Santo António dos Capuchos, Santa Marta, Dona Estefânia, Curry Cabral and the Dr. Alfredo da Costa Maternity. It covers 38 parishes in Lisbon and eight in Loures.
The Dona Estefânia Hospital specialises in pediatrics and the Dr. Alfredo da Costa Maternity is the place to go for anything to do with obstetrics or neonatal care. The Santa Marta Hospital, located in the central Avenida da Liberdade, is one of the main hospitals in Portugal for diagnosing and treating cardiovascular disease. As for the Curry Cabral, its speciality is liver transplant.
Western Lisbon Hospital Centre
Three hospitals make up this centre: São Francisco Xavier, Egas Moniz and Santa Cruz. It covers the parishes of São Francisco Xavier, Santa Maria de Belém, Ajuda, Alcântara and Santo Condestável, but also reaches the councils of Oeiras, Cascais, Amadora and Sintra.
The Santa Cruz Hospital, in Carnaxide, focuses on cardiovascular care and its staff performed the first heart transplant in Portugal, in 1986.
Other SNS hospitals
Besides these SNS hospitals in Lisbon there are others in nearby councils, such as the Dr. José de Almeida Hospital, in Cascais, the Professor Doutor Fernando Fonseca Hospital, in Amadora, the Beatriz Ângelo Hospital, in Loures and the Garcia de Orta Hospital, in Almada.
Here you can find the addresses of hospitals in Lisbon and neighbouring regions.
Private hospitals
As far as private hospitals go, three groups operate in Lisbon: Luz Saúde, Lusíadas and CUF.
The Golden Key Account gives you access to special conditions offered by the Luz Saúde or the Grupo Lusíadas Saúde.
Open an Golden Key Account to enjoy these, and other, advantages for foreigners who choose to live in Portugal.
