I'm one of the lucky ones to actually have a doctor so I can book an appointment rather than having to turn up before dawn and hoping there are enough tickets to get in - if there are not then its back the next day and a new ticket, so the process can be endless.
I could go to A&E but last time I did that (by ambulance) I waited for 6 hours literally rolling on the floor in agony outside with all the others - blocked urinary tract so my bladder got dangerously full, only saved by a nurse who rushed me in for a catheter on seeing me writhing around.

I booked to see my doctor yesterday, got an appointment for 5th Feb, nearly 2 months!

Looking on the bright Side of Life, I may be dead by then, so problem solved for both parties

That is in Lapa in Lisbon

I'm curious, how long is this wait around the country?

Here in Olhao the wait is very similar for my doctor, even when I email her. Using the SNS app, I'm lucky to get an appointment in 3 months' time. A specialist appointment to see a dermatologist in Faro takes 6 months from the day my doctor makes the high-priority request. At 81 years of age, I could well die before seeing a specialist. Too be fair, if you go quickly to A & E at Faro hospital, they usually save your life. It's a matter of luck at A & E because they are usually very busy and the staff are overstretched.

That's terrible
I think dermatology is often not covered by private insurance as well

I had slightly older than me family move to the Algarve about a decade ago as their UK doctor said that their conditions would benefit from the better climate
after a couple or so years, when their conditions got a bit worse and they had to regularly use the SNS (PT NHS) and their Private Insurance, they decided it was just not feasible to stay, sold up and moved back to the UK

It all depends on if you have been assigned to a family doctor. We never have, been here 7 years .
Firstly we could arrive at the centro de saude ,plead your case with reception and it was a roll of the dice if you got a quick appointment or not.
Lately there isn't even a doctor available at the centro de saude, last appointment I had took 2 months and it was a video call with a doctor elsewhere.

The system is broken

Caldas da rainha btw

It is indeed broken!

Health Crisis: there are more than 1.5 million Portuguese without a family doctor

this number increased by around 1/3 of a million in the last year

https://sicnoticias.pt/pais/2025-03-...milia-6f275526

Tavira Centro de Saude operates a "Consulta do Dia" - you turn up wait, get to see a nurse who takes the decision on whether or not your situation requires a doctor's attention . If authorised normally get an appointment at the end of the afternoon. Last time needed the service I was actually offered the option of an appointment the next morning with my usual family doctor instead of seeing another doctor the same day. .
On a more routine basis our GP gives us a six monthly appointmenton a rolling basis with a raft of tests .
Not a single complaint about where we are but do realise this is quite exceptional.

Wow, that seems brilliant, lucky you indeed!

I have private insurance, but its still expensive even with that and I have had it for years, if I was going to have to get it new at my age nearly 60 I wouldnt be able to afford it

The thing is I have been paying such high contributions for years on a low wage that I feel I deserve to be able to use the SNS

I needed to see dermatologist in Faro about a year ago and ended up going to a private clinic. I think the consultation fee was €90 and only a few days wait.

Here in Alges, we both have family doctor but a couple of months wait to see her. OTOH, phone at 08.30 and will get appt. to see alternative doctor same day.

We pay for private insurance, and it's our biggest expense by a wide margin.
As the private system bleeds personnel away from the public system, they deplete the public, make themselves more busy and the costs rise and rise.

Medicine everywhere is a victim of its own success. the better they are, the more lives they preserve, the more need there is for medical resources.
Doctors are supposed to be the most clever of us, yet they're paid very poorly compared to what other people with their brain power get in other fields (and other places).

Life expectancy keeps going up; as does the expense of it.

I Totally agree

For us too, private health insurance is a must and is hugely expensive, I am getting a bit long in the tooth now at nearly 60, but its also been a huge cost for our daughter, and we only have one child

And, I think Doctors are indeed very clever, but most of all, they almost daily have the responsibility of someone dying if they dont get it right. So this includes most health workers too

But, I know, let's pay football players millions.