Health Care

SNS – Serviço Nacional de Saúde

If you are a resident, you can register with the local surgery or nearest Centro de Saùde.  This then becomes your family doctor, first point of contact for treatment, referral for lab tests or specialist care. That’s the theory; in reality there hasn’t been a permanent SNS doctor in Idanha concelho for a long time.

 Monsanto surgery  that used to be in operation 2 days a week is closed 🙁

At the moment (April 2025) a private GP comes to Monsanto twice a month (check dates with junta and ask to be put on the list for the next date) and attends a limited number of patients. 

The nearest Centro de Saude is in Idanha-a-Nova, Rua Aprigío Leão de Meirelles (just follow sign from main road)
Contact:  Tel 277 200 210 or e-mail ucsp.idanha (at) ulscb.min-saude.pt
It is open for emergencies 9 – 23h, 7 days a week, but call ahead to find out if a doctor is on site at that moment. 

In urgent matters, call SNS24 on Tel. 808 24 24 24 to be referred to the nearest health center or hospital that can attend to your issue. You will receive a reference number that will/should reduce waiting times once you get to the hospital.

There is a private general doctor in Penha Garcia, Doctor Eugenio, tel. 966 791 649. I’m told a consultation costs around EUR25.  

Cartao Raiano Saude 0-114

Longterm residents of the concelho can sign up to this service. It entitles to consultation (1st one is free, not sure how fees work afterwards) in the mobile unit that comes to Monsanto. In case of further treatment or referral e.g. for diagnostics, you pay 50% of the cost. 

(This is 2nd hand info. If someone is using this service and can elaborate or clarify, please contact me.)

Schedule for mobile unit here https://idanha.pt/institucional/cartao-raiano-saude-0-114/cronograma_cartaoraianosaude0_114/