Understanding the importance of a family doctor
Having a family doctor is more than just an administrative formality. It means ensuring that someone knows your health history, follows your wellbeing and is there for you in the moments when you need it most. Despite its importance, many people still have questions about how to access this service.
If you are among those looking for answers, read on and find out whether you are entitled to a family doctor, how you can request one and what has recently changed in accessing this service within the SNS (the Portuguese National Health Service)
What is a family doctor?
Also known as a general practitioner, this is the professional who treats immediate health concerns and follows the physical, emotional and social development of their patients throughout their lives.
The main responsibilities of a family doctor include:
- Primary health care. Diagnoses and treats common health problems, offering advice on prevention and wellbeing
- Ongoing care. Establishes a lasting relationship with patients, often spanning several generations of the same family
- Prevention and health education. Works to promote healthy lifestyles and prevent illness, helping to reduce future risks
- Care coordination. Ensures integrated management of your health, liaising with other specialists and services whenever necessary
- Holistic care. Values the patient as a whole, taking into account physical, psychological and social aspects
- First point of contact. Acts as the gateway to the health system, responding to initial concerns and guiding the next steps.
When should I see a family doctor?
- General health concerns: aches, fevers, infections, allergies or other non-urgent health problems
- Chronic conditions: monitoring and adjusting treatments for conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure or asthma
- Routine examinations: regular check-ups, including blood tests, cholesterol screening and blood pressure measurements
- Vaccination: administering vaccines included in the Programa Nacional de Vacinação (National Vaccination Programme)
- Mental health: initial support in cases of depression, anxiety or other psychological problems, with referral to specialists if necessary
- Prevention and health advice: guidance on healthy lifestyles, nutrition, giving up smoking and disease prevention
- Reproductive health: family planning, contraception, matters relating to pregnancy and screening examinations
- Prescriptions and renewals: obtaining medicines for ongoing use or prescribing new treatments
- Referral to specialists: assessment and referral for specialist appointments or specific treatments
- Sick leave and medical certificates: issuing documentation for work, school or sporting activities.
Who is entitled to a family doctor?
In Portugal, anyone registered with the SNS (the Portuguese National Health Service) is entitled to a family doctor, including:
- Portuguese citizens
- Legal foreign residents
- Beneficiaries of international agreements
- Refugees and asylum seekers.
However, the allocation of this professional depends on availability at the health centre in your area of residence. Priority is given to:
- Pregnant women
- Children up to 12 years of age
- Patients with chronic conditions.
How to request a family doctor
To request a family doctor, follow these steps:
- Registering with the SNS. Start by registering with the SNS (the Portuguese National Health Service). Go to the health centre nearest to your area of residence with the following documents: your Citizen Card (Cartão de Cidadão) or another valid form of identification and proof of residence (such as a utility bill or tenancy agreement).
During this process, you will be entered in the Registo Nacional de Utentes (RNU, the National Patient Register) and will receive your Número Nacional de Utente (NNU, National Patient Number). - Requesting a family doctor. Once you are registered with the SNS and have your Patient Number, ask at the health centre for a family doctor to be allocated. Availability depends on the number of doctors in your area, but as soon as one is allocated, you can start booking appointments for your primary health care.
In some regions, it is possible to begin the registration process online through platforms such as the SNS Portal or SNS 24, but the most common method is still in person at the health centre.
How to find out whether I have a family doctor
To confirm whether you have a family doctor allocated, you can:
- Ask at the health centre. Go to the reception desk at your health centre and request this information
- Check on the MySNS app. In your personal area, you can see whether you have a family doctor associated with you
- Get in touch by phone or email. Your health centre can provide this information through the contact details available.
If you do not yet have a family doctor, you will be placed on a waiting list and may, in urgent situations, be seen by other health professionals at the centre.
What if I do not have a family doctor?
Those who do not have a doctor allocated can turn to:
- Walk-in appointments: available at specific times at the
- Health centre
SNS 24: for booking appointments and information about health care - Or A&E (emergency) services.
New rules for 2025
Since January 2025, the Government has introduced new priorities for the allocation of family doctors, which are:
- Extended priority for children: children up to 12 years of age (previously up to two years) are given priority
- Attention to specific groups: pregnant women and patients with chronic conditions retain priority
- Loss of entitlement: emigrants and foreign residents who have no record of appointments in the last five years may lose their family doctor.
These measures form part of the Plano de Emergência e Transformação na Saúde (the Emergency and Transformation Plan for Health), with the aim of improving the management of the resources available.
Do you need transport to your appointments?
For patients who need frequent trips to appointments or treatments and face mobility difficulties, Ambula offers a non-emergency patient transport service that ensures comfortable and efficient travel to the health care you need.
The most frequently asked questions about the family doctor
You should register at the health centre in your area of residence. Allocation depends on the availability of doctors there.
The right is lost when you move to a different area of residence without updating your registration, or if the patient ceases to be eligible according to the SNS criteria.
Use the health centre's channels, such as the reception desk, email or the MySNS app.
You can turn to the additional walk-in service at the health centre or to the SNS A&E (emergency) services in more serious cases.
Allocation follows the order of registration at the health centre, respecting the availability of doctors.
Contact the health centre, in person, by phone or through the MySNS app.
Tests can be prescribed by your family doctor or by other specialists you see.
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