Algarve health care

EU citizens visiting Portugal can benefit from the state health system which includes general hospitals and health care centres. Running alongside this is the private health care sector.

The two main state hospitals of the Algarve are situated in Faro and Portimão and provide general services such as A&E, medicine, and surgery. These two hospitals cater for the population of the length and breadth of the Algarve so are understandably busy. For minor health issues one can receive a slightly quicker service at the many health centres dotted across the Algarve where they are known as ‘Centro de Saúdes’. Generally, there is a health centre in every location, and mostly they are open during week days only. A small number of them, however, are open 24 hours a day and provide an emergency service.

This state health system is of course available to all EU citizens, either free of charge or at a reduced cost, depending on the treatment required.

The private health care system of the Algarve comprises hospitals, clinics, and retirement facilities. There are several private hospitals and clinics covering from East to West Algarve, in areas such as Faro, ‘The Golden Triangle’, Albufeira, Luz and Lagos. These establishments will all have multinational staff speaking many languages, and provide services such as:

24 hour emergency call out

Domiciliary nursing care

Major and minor surgery

Radiology

Clinical analysis laboratories

Gynaecology and ante-natal

Physiotherapy and sports medicine

Rental of medical equipment

There are several retirement villages in the Algarve providing facilities for the over 50s, all with English speaking staff. One of these also incorporates a nursing home for the infirm.

Wherever you are in the Algarve, you are never far from some form of medical support.