The Short Version
PrEP has been free in Portugal since 2018 under the SNS (Serviço Nacional de Saúde). You cannot buy it over the counter at a standard pharmacy; it is dispensed only through a Hospital Pharmacy (Farmácia Hospitalar) after an assessment by an Infectious Diseases specialist. GAT and CheckpointLX are your best entry points for navigating the system.
Who Qualifies
Portugal's PrEP programme is open to those at elevated clinical risk for HIV. This includes gay and bisexual men, trans people, and others with recent STIs or multiple partners.
The "Número de Utente": To access the free programme, you generally need a Portuguese National Health Service ID (Número de Utente). If you are a foreign resident or digital nomad without one, GAT/CheckpointLX can advise you on how to obtain it or find alternative access.
The Process Step by Step
Step 1 — Start at GAT / CheckpointLX
CheckpointLX (Lisbon) and GAT Porto are the most efficient entry points. They act as the bridge between the community and the state hospitals. Staff will:
- Confirm your eligibility
- Run the pre-PrEP tests you will need (HIV, creatinine, hepatitis, STI screen)
- Assist with the Número de Utente registration if you are struggling with the bureaucracy
- Write a referral letter directly to the hospital PrEP clinic
- In high-risk cases, flag urgency to the specialist team
You can use a GP (Médico de Família), but it is often significantly slower and some GPs are unfamiliar with PrEP. GAT is more reliable.
Step 2 — Appointment at the Hospital You will be assigned an outpatient appointment at a hospital's Infectious Diseases (Doenças Infecciosas) or Dermato-Venereology department.
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.
Check the Pharmacy Hours: Hospital pharmacies often close earlier than the clinics (sometimes as early as 3:30 PM or 4:00 PM). Ensure you check the pharmacy's specific hours so you don't leave your appointment with a script you can't fill until the next day.
Waiting Times & "Bridge PrEP"
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 common "bridge" used by many while they wait for their first SNS hospital appointment.
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)
[!CAUTION] The "Urine-Only" Trap: Many Portuguese hospitals still default to urine-only testing for STIs. This misses up to 80% of infections in the throat or rectum. Be specific: Ask for throat and rectal swabs (zaragatoa faríngea e zaragatoa retal). If the hospital refuses or lacks the kits, visit CheckpointLX to supplement your screening.
Practical Summary
- Access: Start at GAT/CheckpointLX for the fastest referral.
- ID: Ensure you have your Número de Utente.
- Cost: €0 (Free) via Hospital; €30-60 via Private Pharmacy.
- Pro-Tip: Check the hospital pharmacy hours before you travel.
See also: