🧑‍⚕️You Don’t Have to Face Portugal’s Healthcare System Alone

Happy Sunday, friends! 🌞

This week, we finally had our first visit with our family doctor through Portugal’s national healthcare system.

We’ve actually been assigned a family doctor for a while (I know, super lucky), but we’d never made an appointment before. Why? It just felt like another Portuguese hurdle to jump over.

But after my husband’s recent round of emergency surgeries, we booked appointments for the whole family for a check-up.

I know everyone’s experience will differ, but for us this week, we were pleasantly surprised at how thorough and caring the staff were. As someone who hasn’t personally had a doctor’s visit since my daughter was born ten years ago, it felt surprisingly reassuring to have someone unpack my medical history, enter it into the system, and simply ask: “How can I help?”

Wayne left with his prescription for X-rays, I got one for a sleeping aid, and Scarlett walked out with the full adoration of the medical staff, who were convinced she must be a local Portuguese kid we’d somehow adopted.

The cost? Nada. We paid just for the meds. How awesome is that?

It takes time to find your feet abroad. It’s taken us four years to finally get to this point. Like most things when you move abroad, even the simple stuff feels complicated at first. You arrive as a capable adult and suddenly feel like a toddler learning to walk again.

But that’s okay. You’re not alone, and one step at a time, you figure it out.

And sometimes, you don’t have to do it alone at all. That brings us to today’s main article, a follow-up with Serenity Portugal, the medical concierge service that’s been a lifeline for so many expats.

After our last feature, I heard from readers who said Serenity helped them navigate Portugal’s healthcare maze, and others asking how to get in touch. So this week, we’re back with Part 2, diving into the services Serenity Portugal offers and how they can help you find your footing in Portugal’s healthcare system.

📰 On the menu today:

And more! Let’s dive in, shall we?

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Braga’s municipal square was transformed into a vibrant oasis of color and aroma from October 28th to November 1st, 2025, as the city celebrated its annual flower market linked to All Saints’ Day. Centered in front of the Town Hall, this event brought together dozens of local vendors offering lush floral arrangements—much more than usual—drawing crowds of locals and visitors from early morning through the evening. The market is a highlight of Braga’s seasonal traditions, with shoppers choosing blooms to honor loved ones and enjoy the festive atmosphere, where lively exchanges and the city’s historic passion for flowers were on full display. Alongside the floral stalls, visitors discovered produce, gourmet goods, and cultural activities, all contributing to a rich experience that connects Braga’s modern community to its cherished customs.

With thanks to Mark Moberg for capturing this beautiful tradition and sharing it with us.

Super Bock em Stock

OneRepublic – Escape to Europe Tour

Mumford & Sons

Web Summit

Lisboa Games Week

Xira Wine Fest

27th International Conventual Sweets & Liqueurs Exhibition

International Hot Air Balloon Festival (FIBAQ)

Luzes Selvagens (Wild Lights)

Welcome to Week 6 of The Great Portugal Expat Experience Project!

This 2-minute survey helps us crowdsource the ultimate Expat Wellness Guide with your funniest fails, unexpected wins, and best advice for newcomers. Each week, we’ll tease one juicy finding from the previous survey, but the full results will be unveiled at the end of this series in our very own Expat Hustle Newcomer’s Guide, created by this awesome community. Don’t miss your chance to be part of it!

A quick overview of surveys open and coming up:

✨ Fun fact from Week 5’s “Tech & Connectivity Challenge” survey:
We discovered that “tech-ready” means something different to every expat — some of you travel light, others could single-handedly power a coworking space. 🔌💻📱

This week, we’re tackling wellness. Moving countries isn’t just about paperwork; it’s a full-body experience. From pharmacy surprises to lifestyle shifts, we’re diving into what it really takes to stay healthy and sane in Portugal.

Take our quick 2-minute survey to help us map out The Health & Wellness Transition — how expats stay healthy, sane, and centered while adapting to life in Portugal. 🌿

Last month, we shared Part 1 of our healthcare series with Dr. Michael Averbukh from Serenity Portugal, where we unpacked the essentials of navigating Portugal’s public and private healthcare systems.

This week, we’re taking it a step further. In Part 2, Dr. Averbukh pulls back the curtain on how Serenity supports expats in real life. From handling emergencies and chronic care to bridging cultural gaps and offering true peace of mind.

If Part 1 was about why healthcare navigation matters, Part 2 is about how Serenity makes it happen. Without further ado, let's hand things over to Dr. Averbukh in this Q&A-style interview.

🩺

Everyone who is concerned with medical needs or wants to understand how to find their way in the unknown healthcare system.

Our youngest client is a 3 month old baby and the oldest is a 94-years-old professional tennis player. In between you can find everyone.

Naturally, that would depend on the condition, but the common approach is to getting to know the client and assure the best possible outcome of every encounter of the client with providers / labs / clinics etc.

Important to point out – Serenity is not a substitute to an emergency line or service. We do provide our members with guidance, like what to do in case of an overt emergency (including the language question). Urgent cases are treated according to the nature of the case, including mediating over the phone / in person between the member and the carers / treating team.

That’s a challenging question. As medical professionals we are likely to know that a certain patient with certain condition and treatment, might face a problem. Aligning expectations in those cases are crucial. As much as possible we, too, try to present the case to the physician in preparation for the encounter. Our experience is that if the communication is well done, the proposed amendments to the treatment protocols are well accepted.

I’d say the key differences are:

Our approach to soften or prevent these cultural clashes include:

That’s a simple answer. As a Serenity member, you are always one phone call / email / message away from a dedicated, professional and caring help. Simple.

We’re working hard on doing our very best every single day. And proud of what people say about us. It’s publicly available – just read the Google reviews or the ones on Trustpilot.

The very vast majority of our clients would have an annual subscription. For specific, time defined needs we offer one time packages of services.

Varies according to one’s needs.

We always repeat the mantra saying there is no “too early” to talk to us. Speaking to us doesn’t mean you have to opt for a subscription immediately. We will advise of the most appropriate timing and form of services.

A simple, open conversation is quite enough. We’ll take it from there.

Yes – the far north of the country and the interior – Alentejo. Quite problematic…

Yes we do! Not a small number of those.

As long as expatriates continue to move to Portugal and care about their wellbeing, we see ourselves as a valuable service. But it’s not only expatriates who need this companionship. Expats do cope with higher obstacles — language, culture, and so on — but the problems of managing care in an under-optimal way aren’t specific to this group alone. We can make it easier and better for everyone; it will just take time.

🩺

With thanks to our collaborator, Dr. Michael Averbukh and the team at Serenity Portugal, for sharing their expertise and insights into navigating the healthcare system in Portugal.

For more information or to learn how Serenity Portugal can support your healthcare journey in Portugal, reach out using the details below.

🌐 serenity-portugal.com

📞 Tel: (+351) 213 571 467

Learn Portuguese Vocabulary: Tarefas Domésticas

Let’s talk about everyday tarefas domésticas – household chores! Knowing how to name them in Portuguese is super handy for daily life, whether you live alone, share a flat, or chat with Portuguese friends.

Here are a few you’ll hear often:
🧺 Dobrar a roupa = to fold the clothes
🧽 Limpar a mesa = to clean the table
🧹 Varrer o chão = to sweep the floor

Even small, practical words like these make your Portuguese sound more natural, and they’re great for building confidence in everyday conversations.

🗣 Want to learn more phrases like this? Check out Mia’s free Portuguese course “Kickstart Your Portuguese - The Basics”.

💡 Mia from Mia Esmeriz Academy is a Portuguese teacher from Porto with more than 15 years of experience teaching foreigners. She helps expats become fluent in Portuguese in a clear and practical way. Alongside her courses, she also shares free content on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok.

Thanks for reading! 💌

Hustle on!

Angelique🧞‍♀️

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