Medical Assistance for Brazilians in Portugal: Do you know the PB-4?

Many people do not know, but it is possible for Brazilian citizens to obtain health care in Portugal under the same conditions offered to Portuguese citizens. Under a bilateral agreement signed between Portugal and Brazil, called PB-4, Brazilians can register with the National Health Service of Portugal and thus have access to preventive and medical-hospital assistance and even the purchase of co-funded medicines, under the same conditions as a Portuguese citizen.

In Portugal, the National Health Service is universal and, taking into account the economic and social conditions of citizens, tends to be free. In practice, this means that users need to pay “reasonable fees” for the use of the services, unless they are proven to be unable to do so. However, the values of the “moderating rates” are significantly low in relation to their real cost, the rest being financed by the State.

The agreement (PB-4) covers all Brazilians who have contributed to Social Security and their dependents who arrive in Portugal, either as tourists or as temporary or permanent residents. But beware: This benefit does not operate automatically!

In order to benefit from the National Health Service it is necessary to obtain, before embarking to Portugal, the Certificate of Right to Medical Assistance – CDAM from the regional office of the Ministry of Health of the State of residence of the interested party in Brazil. The list of documents required to issue the CDAM can be accessed at this official link of the Ministry of Health: https://sna.saude.gov.br/cdam/.

The interested party must bring a copy and original of all the documents requested to the Ministry of Health’s regional office, and it is recommended that the request be made with some advance in view of the fact that CDAM is not always issued immediately. Once issued, this document is valid for 1 year, renewable, from the date of issue.

Once this has been done, if you need medical assistance in Portugal, you should go to the Hospital or Health Centre of the place where you are staying in the country with the CDAM, Passport, and proof of residence/hosting, to obtain your registration with the National Health Service and, consequently, obtain treatment under the same conditions offered to Portuguese citizens.

Author: Roberta Fraser
Citizenship & Immigration

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