Centro de Medicina Física e Reabilitação de Alcoitão

The Centro de Medicina Física e Reabilitação de Alcoitão (CMRA) is a Portuguese physical medicine and rehabilitation institution located in Alcoitão, in the parish of Alcabideche, municipality of Cascais. It operates under the Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Lisboa (SCML), the historic Portuguese charitable institution, and is widely known simply as 'Alcoitão'. Its brand signature is 'Excelência em Reabilitação' — Excellence in Rehabilitation. The centre was created on the initiative of Dr. José Guilherme de Mello e Castro, then Provedor of the Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Lisboa, who in 1956 decided to begin construction of a rehabilitation centre in Portugal. At the time of its creation it was acclaimed as one of the best institutions in the field of rehabilitation medicine in the world, and its staff were trained through courses following international programmes, with cooperation from international bodies such as the World Rehabilitation Fund. In 2026 the institution marks 60 years of excellence in rehabilitation, according to its own website. CMRA is dedicated to post-acute rehabilitation of people with predominantly physical or motor disabilities, as well as congenital and acquired multiple disabilities, of any age, coming from all over Portugal. Its main objective is to promote maximum functionality, valuing and enhancing each individual's capacities and supporting them in rebuilding their life project. Beyond healthcare delivery, it contributes to the training of doctors, nurses, diagnostic and therapeutic technicians and health technicians, as well as to scientific research in the field. The centre offers a broad, differentiated range of services that its website describes as unique in the country in terms of quality and scope: Rehabilitation Medicine, Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy, Speech Therapy, Nursing, Psychology, Orthotics and Prosthetics, and Nutrition. Care is accessed through a medical consultation in the specialty of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (MFR). The institution also runs a patient support office (Gabinete de Apoio ao Utente) providing clarification, mediation, legislation information, rights and duties, awareness-raising and social benefits guidance, with the intervention of a social worker. It maintains agreements with a range of entities and offers inpatient programmes. Over the last three decades CMRA has constantly adapted its organisational structure to the needs of its patients and professionals, investing in technological development and the modernisation of its facilities. It remains an active, publicly owned institution within the SCML group, publishing news, podcasts and community programmes such as the 'Casa na Árvore' therapy programme and the 'Saber Mais para Cuidar Melhor' podcast for caregivers of children with special needs.

The Centro de Medicina Física e Reabilitação de Alcoitão traces its origins to a decision taken in 1956 by Dr. José Guilherme de Mello e Castro, then Provedor (ombudsman/administrator) of the Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Lisboa, to begin construction of a rehabilitation centre in Portugal. The initiative responded to the widespread needs of people with motor limitations, who were recognised as having the right to a harmonious development of their individual and social capacities, with the main aim of achieving the fullest possible integration of those individuals into society. At the time of its creation, the centre was immediately acclaimed as one of the best institutions in the field of rehabilitation medicine in the world. Staff preparation included courses following international programmes, with the cooperation of international entities such as the World Rehabilitation Fund. This international orientation helped establish Alcoitão as a reference point in Portuguese rehabilitation medicine. Over the following decades the institution consolidated its role as a national centre for post-acute rehabilitation, serving people with predominantly physical or motor disabilities and with congenital and acquired multiple disabilities, of any age, from all over Portugal. Its mission combined direct care with the training of doctors, nurses, diagnostic and therapeutic technicians and health technicians, as well as scientific research in the field. In the last three decades, the centre has undergone constant adaptation of its organisational structure in order to keep pace with the needs of its patients and professionals, investing in technological development and the modernisation of its facilities. This ongoing renewal gave substance to its brand signature, 'Excelência em Reabilitação' (Excellence in Rehabilitation). By the mid-2020s the institution was promoting its 60th anniversary of excellence in rehabilitation, alongside inpatient programmes, agreements with partner entities, a patient support office, community therapy programmes such as Casa na Árvore, and public information initiatives including the podcast 'Saber Mais para Cuidar Melhor'. It remains part of the Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Lisboa and continues to operate as a publicly owned rehabilitation centre in Alcabideche, Cascais.

• 1956

  Dr. José Guilherme de Mello e Castro, Provedor of the Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Lisboa, decides to begin construction of a rehabilitation centre in Portugal.

• The centre is created and immediately acclaimed as one of the best rehabilitation medicine institutions in the world, with staff trained through international programmes and cooperation from bodies such as the World Rehabilitation Fund.

• Over three decades, the organisational structure is constantly adapted, with investment in technology and modernisation of facilities, giving substance to the 'Excelência em Reabilitação' brand signature.

• CMRA celebrates 60 years of excellence in rehabilitation, as highlighted on its website.

A national reference centre for physical medicine and rehabilitation in Portugal, branded under the signature 'Excelência em Reabilitação' (Excellence in Rehabilitation) and described as offering quality and scope unique in the country.

• Rehabilitation Medicine

  Specialty medical care in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (MFR), through which access to all health care at the centre is processed.

• Physiotherapy

  One of the differentiated rehabilitation services offered by CMRA.

• Occupational Therapy

  Therapeutic service supporting functional recovery and daily living.

• Speech Therapy

  Therapeutic service for communication and related disorders.

• Nursing

  Rehabilitation nursing within inpatient and outpatient care.

• Psychology

  Psychological support integrated into rehabilitation programmes.

• Orthotics and Prosthetics

  Provision of orthotic and prosthetic devices and services.

• Nutrition

  Nutritional assessment and support for rehabilitation patients.

• Inpatient rehabilitation programmes

  Structured residential rehabilitation programmes promoted on the CMRA website.

• Patient support office (Gabinete de Apoio ao Utente)

  A space for listening, participation, mediation and dialogue between patient and institution, with social worker intervention; covers clarification, mediation, legislation, rights and duties, awareness-raising and social benefits.

1. 1Início - CMRAcmra.scml.pt
2. 2Sobre nós - CMRAcmra.scml.pt
3. 3Centro de Medicina Física e Reabilitação de Alcoitão - Wikidatawikidata.org