The History of the Military Hospital of Porto

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The Porto Military Hospital, currently designated the Portuguese Armed Forces Hospital – Porto Branch, represents one of the most significant military healthcare institutions in northern Portugal. Its origins date back to the initiative of King Pedro V in 1860, leading to the construction of the first purpose-built national military hospital, whose construction began in 1862. Throughout its history, the institution played an important role during major historical events, including the revolutionary movements of 1891 and 1927, the participation of Portuguese forces in the First World War, and later the Colonial War (1961–1974), during which it developed expertise in reconstructive surgery, orthopaedics, and prosthetic rehabilitation. The hospital also contributed

to civilian healthcare, notably during the COVID-19 pandemic. Over more than 160 years, despite structural damage, institutional reclassifications, and political changes, the hospital maintained its commitment to medical care for both military personnel and civilians, remaining faithful to its longstanding humanitarian motto: Hic non hostes nisi morbi.