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Children's health in Lisbon

The Portuguese system is a pleasant surprise: an almost free public service for check-ups and vaccines, a fast private sector for the rest, and a list of French-speaking doctors kept by the embassy. Here is how to find your way, from the local health centre to paediatric emergencies at night.

Verified on 30 October 2026

How the system works

Portugal combines a public national health service (SNS), almost free of charge, with a highly developed private sector. Most French families use both: the health centre for check-ups and vaccines, the private sector for speed.

Good to know

  • The SNS is open to residents: you register at the centro de saúde for your area, which provides family medicine, nursing care, child health, nutrition, psychology and local oral health services. Source
  • Since 1 June 2022, user charges (taxas moderadoras) have disappeared from almost all SNS care. They remain only in hospital emergency departments, and only if you were not referred by the SNS (SNS 24 line or health centre) and are not admitted afterwards. Source
  • Until your Portuguese rights open, the European Health Insurance Card issued in France covers urgent care; remember to request one for each family member before leaving. Source
  • The private sector (CUF, Hospital da Luz, Lusíadas) works with local health insurance, often provided by the employer: paediatric appointments within days, private paediatric ERs, an app to manage everything. Without insurance, prices remain affordable but are paid in full.
  • The SNS family doctor also looks after children; there is no direct-access community paediatrician in the public system. In very popular areas, being assigned a family doctor can take time: the health centre will still see you in an open consultation.

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Registering and children's check-ups

The utente number is your entry ticket to the SNS. Do it as soon as you have an address: it opens the health centre, free vaccines and the SNS 24 app.

Good to know

  • Go to the health centre for your area: if you do not yet have a utente number, it is issued when you register. Bring ID, NIF, EU citizen registration certificate and proof of address, for yourself and for each child. Source
  • If you do not know which health centre covers your address, call the SNS 24 line (808 24 24 24), which also directs you to the right health centre. Source
  • Children are followed under the National Child and Youth Health Programme: several check-ups in the first year, then at key ages up to adolescence, with the family doctor and the nurse. Source
  • The local health record is the Boletim de Saúde Infantil e Juvenil, given at birth. If you arrive with a child, bring their French carnet de santé: the nurse records the vaccines already given and adapts the schedule.
  • In the private sector, you simply create an account on the hospital group's app or website and book with the paediatrician of your choice; keep the same paediatrician for follow-up.

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Children's emergencies

The right reflex before heading to A&E: call the SNS 24 line, which assesses, directs you and saves you the fee. For a life-threatening emergency, dial 112.

Good to know

  • 112 is the single number for medical emergencies, fire and police. Give the location, the nature of the incident, where you are and the number you are calling from. Source
  • The SNS 24 line (808 24 24 24) answers 24/7: it assesses symptoms, advises and directs you to the health centre or to A&E. A referral by SNS 24 waives the emergency department fee. Source
  • If a child swallows a product or medicine, call the poison information centre (CIAV) on 800 250 250, 24/7. Source
  • Paediatric emergency departments triage by severity, not arrival order. At Dona Estefânia hospital, they run 24/7 for all children and young people up to 17 years and 364 days, with paediatrics, paediatric surgery, orthopaedics and child psychiatry. Source
  • In private hospitals, paediatric ER hours vary from one hospital to another and sometimes change: check the website before leaving, especially in the evening.

Addresses

  • Hospital de Dona Estefânia, urgences pédiatriques

    Emergency

    Rua Jacinta Marto, 1169-045 Lisboa

    Lisbon's reference children's hospital (ULS São José) and the country's largest paediatric emergency department, open 24/7; long waits for minor cases.

    Website Source

  • Hospital de Santa Maria, urgences pédiatriques

    Emergency

    Avenida Professor Egas Moniz, 1649-035 Lisboa

    The large university hospital in north Lisbon (ULS Santa Maria), with a paediatric emergency department and paediatric and neonatal intensive care.

    Website Source

  • Hospital CUF Descobertas, urgences pédiatriques

    Emergency

    Rua Mário Botas, Parque das Nações, 1998-018 Lisboa

    Private hospital in Parque das Nações: paediatric walk-in emergency care open 24/7, one adult per child, waiting times shown online.

    Website Source

  • Hospital CUF Tejo, urgences pédiatriques

    Emergency

    Avenida José Manuel de Mello 171, 1350-345 Lisboa

    Private hospital in Alcântara, the closest to the western neighbourhoods: adult emergencies 24/7, paediatric walk-in care every day from 8:00 to 21:30.

    Website Source

  • Hospital CUF Cascais, urgences pédiatriques

    Emergency

    Rua Fernão Lopes 60, Cobre, 2750-663 Cascais

    For families on the coast: walk-in care for adults and children every day from 8:00 to 22:00. At night, head to Lisbon.

    Website Source

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French-speaking doctors

The French embassy in Portugal publishes an indicative list of French-speaking doctors (updated in December 2025). It is provided for information only, without engaging the administration's responsibility, and the choice of practitioner is free. We list the Lisbon-area practitioners useful to families; the full list also includes an ophthalmologist, an ENT specialist and practitioners in Porto, Coimbra, the Algarve and the Azores.

Good to know

  • The list is limited to medical and allied professions as defined by the French public health code; psychologists and other French-speaking health professionals are not on it and are found instead in French-language media directories. Source
  • Most practitioners on the list work privately: check with your insurer whether the practice or hospital is in its network.

Addresses

  • Dr Silvia Bacalhau

    Paediatrician

    Parque das Nações et Príncipe Real

    Paediatrician, consults at CUF Descobertas hospital and the Alegria Medical Center (Praça da Alegria).

    Languages spoken : FR, PT

    Website Source

  • Dr Gabrielle Celin

    General practitioner

    Lumiar (Torres de Lisboa)

    General practitioner, Hospital da Luz Torres de Lisboa.

    Languages spoken : FR, PT

    Source

  • Dr Louis Arthur Da Silva

    General practitioner

    Marquês de Pombal (rua Castilho)

    General practitioner, practice on Rua Castilho.

    Languages spoken : FR, PT

    Source

  • Dr Dominique Langin

    General practitioner

    Príncipe Real (praça da Alegria)

    General medicine, osteopathy, acupuncture, hyperbaric and diving medicine, Alegria Medical Center.

    Languages spoken : FR, PT

    Website Source

  • Dr Louis Teulières

    General practitioner

    Parque Eduardo VII (avenida Sidónio Pais)

    General practitioner, Clínica Médica Internacional de Lisboa (CMIL); out-of-hours emergency message line.

    Languages spoken : FR, PT

    Website Source

  • Dr François Durand Pereira

    Dentist

    Saldanha (avenida da República)

    Dentist specialising in orthodontics, Clínica de Medicina Oral.

    Languages spoken : FR, PT

    Website Source

  • Dr Manuel Pourtalès

    Dentist

    Campo Grande

    Dentist, practice in Campo Grande.

    Languages spoken : FR, PT

    Source

  • Dr Charlyne Nesson

    Dentist

    Saldanha (avenida Casal Ribeiro)

    Dentist, Clínica Hugo Madeira.

    Languages spoken : FR, PT

    Website Source

  • Dr Christian Maire

    Dentist

    Charneca da Caparica (Herdade da Aroeira)

    Dentist on the south bank of the Tagus, at Herdade da Aroeira.

    Languages spoken : FR, PT

    Source

  • Dra Laure Azincourt

    Psychologist

    Picoas (avenida Duque de Loulé)

    Psychiatrist, child psychiatrist and hypnotherapist.

    Languages spoken : FR, PT

    Website Source

  • Dra Ludivine Dubois de Bodinat

    Psychologist

    Rato (rua Dom João V)

    Psychiatrist and psychotherapist: children, adults, perinatal care, EMDR.

    Languages spoken : FR, PT

    Website Source

  • Dr Léa Elise Lotersztain

    Psychologist

    Rato (rua Dom João V)

    Psychiatrist.

    Languages spoken : FR, PT

    Source

  • Dra Fátima Gysin

    Psychologist

    Campo Grande

    Psychiatrist and psychotherapist.

    Languages spoken : FR, PT

    Source

  • Dr François Auguste Gysin

    Psychologist

    Alvalade (avenida do Brasil)

    Psychiatrist and psychotherapist.

    Languages spoken : FR, PT

    Source

  • Céline Vaz

    Campo de Ourique

    Physiotherapist, home visits possible.

    Languages spoken : FR, PT

    Website Source

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Pregnancy and maternity

Pregnancy care is free at the health centre, and Lisbon's public maternity units are well regarded. Many French women still choose private care, with insurance that covers maternity.

Good to know

  • Follow-up takes place at the health centre with the family doctor, or privately with an obstetrician. You receive the Boletim de Saúde da Grávida, to show at every appointment and at the maternity unit.
  • The whooping cough vaccine (Tdap) is recommended and free in every pregnancy, between 20 and 36 weeks, ideally before 32 weeks, to protect the newborn. Source
  • Initial parental leave lasts 120 or 150 days, as the parents choose, with 30 more days if shared between both parents; the Segurança Social benefit decreases as the length increases. Source
  • With private insurance, check the waiting period for maternity cover before you conceive: it often exceeds several months.

Addresses

  • Maternidade Dr. Alfredo da Costa

    Maternity

    Rua Viriato, 1069-089 Lisboa

    Portugal's largest public maternity hospital (ULS São José), near Saldanha; 24/7 obstetric emergencies with the entrance on Rua Pedro Nunes, epidural available 24/7.

    Website Source

  • Hospital de Santa Maria, obstétrique

    Maternity

    Avenida Professor Egas Moniz, 1649-035 Lisboa

    The university hospital's maternity unit, backed by neonatal intensive care: the reference for high-risk pregnancies.

    Website Source

  • Hospital da Luz Lisboa, maternité

    Maternity

    Avenida Lusíada 100, 1500-650 Lisboa

    Large private maternity unit in Luz (Carnide), with neonatology; welcome guide online to prepare your stay.

    Website Source

  • Hospital CUF Descobertas, obstétrique

    Maternity

    Rua Mário Botas, Parque das Nações, 1998-018 Lisboa

    Private maternity unit in Parque das Nações, with obstetrics and gynaecology on site 24/7.

    Website Source

  • Dra Sofia Figueiredo

    Luz (Carnide)

    French-speaking obstetrician-gynaecologist on the embassy's list, also specialising in assisted reproduction, at Hospital da Luz.

    Languages spoken : FR, PT

    Website Source

  • Joana Faustino da Ponte

    Avenidas Novas et Avenida da Liberdade

    French-speaking physiotherapist on the embassy's list, specialising in pelvic floor, pre- and postnatal care.

    Languages spoken : FR, PT

    Source

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Pharmacies and medicines

The farmácia, with its green cross, is often the first port of call: pharmacists readily give advice, and many speak English, sometimes French.

Good to know

  • At night, on Sundays and public holidays, one duty pharmacy (farmácia de serviço) per area is open, on a rota. The Portuguese pharmacies' website shows the duty pharmacies near you, and the list is posted on every pharmacy door. Source
  • Useful equivalents: Ben-u-ron (paracetamol, the Doliprane equivalent, as syrup and suppositories for children), Brufen (ibuprofen, the Advil equivalent), soro fisiológico for saline. They are sold in pharmacies and parapharmacies.
  • A prescription issued in France is in principle accepted by a Portuguese pharmacy, as anywhere in the EU, but the pharmacist may refuse certain medicines or not stock the same product: have long-term treatments renewed by a local doctor. Source
  • Shortages regularly affect some medicines in Portugal: arrive with a few weeks' supply for children on regular treatment. Source

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Vaccines

The National Vaccination Programme (PNV) is free, universal and very widely followed. The schedule resembles the French one, with a few timing differences to know.

Good to know

  • Any child who comes to a health centre can be vaccinated free of charge under the PNV, even if not yet registered with the SNS. Vaccines are not compulsory in Portugal, unlike the eleven compulsory vaccinations for young children in France, but coverage is very high. Source
  • First difference: hepatitis B is given at birth, in the maternity unit, within the first 24 hours. Then a hexavalent vaccine at 2 and 6 months, pentavalent at 4 and 18 months, and a tetravalent booster (diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, polio) at 5 years. Source
  • Pneumococcal (PCV20) and meningococcal B at 2, 4 and 12 months; meningococcal ACWY and first MMR (VASPR) at 12 months, second MMR at 5 years, whereas it is given at 16 to 18 months in France. Source
  • At 10: HPV for girls and boys (two doses six months apart) and a tetanus-diphtheria booster, followed by adult boosters. Source
  • BCG is not routine: it is reserved for children in risk groups, as in France. Source
  • Vaccination takes place at the health centre, by appointment or at a nurse's clinic. Bring the French carnet de santé: doses already given are recorded and a catch-up schedule is offered if needed.

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These landmarks do not replace the advice of a health professional. In an emergency, call the local emergency number shown above.

A place has closed, something has changed? Tell us: the mums of Lisbon will thank you.

Sources for this page

The public pages these landmarks come from. The official website always prevails.

  1. 1 Ambassade de France au Portugal, médecins francophones
  2. 2 gov.pt, s'inscrire au centre de santé
  3. 3 Décret-loi n° 37/2022, tickets modérateurs du SNS
  4. 4 ULS São José, urgences pédiatriques de Dona Estefânia
  5. 5 CUF, atendimento permanente Descobertas
  6. 6 DGS, PNV, schéma général recommandé
  7. 7 Segurança Social, subsídio parental
  8. 8 Ambassade de France au Portugal, en cas d'urgence

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