The Short Version
PrEP has been free in Portugal since 2018 under the SNS (Serviço Nacional de Saúde). The catch is that you cannot walk into a pharmacy and buy it — it is dispensed only through the hospital pharmacy (Farmácia Hospitalar) after you have been assessed by an Infectious Diseases specialist. GAT and CheckpointLX are your best entry points.
Who Qualifies
Portugal's PrEP programme is open to people who meet the clinical criteria for elevated HIV risk. In practice, this includes gay and bisexual men who have condomless sex with partners of unknown status, people with a recent STI diagnosis, people with multiple recent sexual partners, and others. CheckpointLX and GAT staff can assess with you whether you qualify and help you make the case to the specialist.
The Process Step by Step
Step 1 — Start at GAT / CheckpointLX
CheckpointLX (Lisbon) and GAT Porto are the most efficient entry points. Staff will:
- Confirm your eligibility
- Run the pre-PrEP tests you will need (HIV, creatinine, hepatitis, STI screen)
- Write a referral letter or directly contact the hospital PrEP clinic on your behalf
- In high-risk cases, flag urgency to the specialist team
You can also start via your Médico de Família (GP), but the GP route is slower and some GPs are unfamiliar with PrEP. GAT is more reliable.
Step 2 — Appointment at Doenças Infecciosas or Dermatovenereologia
Once referred, you will have an outpatient appointment at the hospital's Infectious Diseases or Dermato-Venereology department. The specialist prescribes PrEP.
Key hospitals with active PrEP programmes:
| City | Hospital | Department |
|---|---|---|
| Lisbon | Hospital Curry Cabral (Centro Hospitalar de Lisboa Central) | Doenças Infecciosas |
| Lisbon | Hospital Santa Maria (CHLN) | Doenças Infecciosas |
| Lisbon | Hospital São José | Doenças Infecciosas |
| Porto | Hospital São João | Doenças Infecciosas |
| Porto | Hospital Santo António | Doenças Infecciosas |
| Coimbra | CHUC (Hospitais da Universidade de Coimbra) | Doenças Infecciosas |
Step 3 — Pick Up at Farmácia Hospitalar
The prescription goes to the hospital's own pharmacy (not a street pharmacy). You collect your PrEP there — free of charge. On follow-up visits (every 3 months) you repeat your blood tests and pick up the next supply.
Waiting Times
The first appointment can have a wait of several weeks. This is the most common frustration. GAT staff sometimes manage to fast-track high-risk cases or find appointments more quickly through their relationships with the clinical teams.
If you are waiting and feel you need PrEP urgently before your appointment comes through:
- Private pharmacies in Portugal sell generic tenofovir/emtricitabine — ask for Truvada genérico or the generic name; costs roughly €30–60/month out-of-pocket
- This is a valid short-term bridge while you wait for the hospital programme
On-Demand PrEP
The 2+1+1 on-demand dosing approach (two pills before sex, one the day after, one the day after that) is recognised in Portugal and some Doenças Infecciosas doctors will prescribe it. If you prefer on-demand, tell the specialist — it substantially reduces the number of pills you need and the monitoring requirements are the same.
Follow-Up
Every 3 months you will need:
- HIV test
- Creatinine / kidney function
- STI screen (gonorrhoea, chlamydia, syphilis) — ask specifically for throat and rectal swabs (zaragatoa faríngea and zaragatoa retal), not just urine
- Hepatitis B check (annually)
If the hospital only offers urine testing, request the additional swabs or supplement with a CheckpointLX visit.
Practical Summary
Free but hospital-only. GAT/CheckpointLX is your fastest route in. Collect from Farmácia Hospitalar every 3 months. Waiting lists exist — ask GAT to help fast-track if needed.
See also: PEP emergency | CheckpointLX testing | PrEP mechanics