Since November 2023, Setúbal's public health service has been reorganised under the **Unidade Local de Saúde da Arrábida** (ULS da Arrábida), which merges the former Centro Hospitalar de Setúbal and the ACES Arrábida primary-care centres. Its catchment covers Setúbal, Palmela, Alcácer do Sal, Grândola, Santiago do Cacém and Sines.
**Hospital de São Bernardo** is the main public hospital, opened in 1959. General specialties (internal medicine, surgery, paediatrics, orthopaedics, cardiology) and 24-hour emergency. From April 2026 it also serves as the regional obstetrics/gynaecology emergency hub for the southern Alentejo Litoral.
**Hospital da Luz Setúbal** is the private reference, 5 minutes from the city centre on the EN10 at km 37. Part of the Luz Saúde group — 78 inpatient beds, operating theatres, 24-hour emergency, oncology centre with radiotherapy. The most specialised private unit in the south of Portugal. CUF doesn't operate in Setúbal city; the nearest is in Almada.
Primary care happens at **centros de saúde** (UCSP, *Unidade de Cuidados de Saúde Personalizados*). There are at least three in Setúbal city: Praça da República (old town), São Sebastião (Vale do Cobro), and São Nicolau. Standard hours 09:00–13:00 / 14:00–17:00.
To use the SNS you need an **utente number**. Any legal resident qualifies — Portuguese citizens, EU citizens with registration, and foreign nationals with a residence permit or who have been in Portugal more than 90 days. You register at the centro de saúde for your address, with your NIF, ID, proof of address, and a Portuguese phone number. Free, often same-day in person. Since 2025, some cities have "Loja da Cidade" desks that handle NISS + utente in one visit.
**Private supplementary insurance** is optional but common — Médis, AdvanceCare, Multicare are the main insurers, roughly €30–80/month per person depending on age and cover. The usual pattern: SNS for chronic and serious acute care; private insurance for quick consults, dental (the SNS doesn't cover adult dentistry) and hospital comfort.
Official sources
Last reviewed: 2026-04