Partindo da linha de análise «medicina e império», este artigo discute as práticas médicas de Goa no século xix com principal referência à sua Escola Médica. Apesar de celebrada pelo seu papel na consolidação do império português em Africa, aquela instituição não deve ser tomada como um simples «instrumento do império»: a administração portuguesa pouca intervenção teve na sua fundação, em 1842, ou na promoção dos médicos goeses que de facto serviram em África no século xix. Predominava então o jogo de interesses locais, e só no século xx são estes postos ao serviço de um projecto colonial mais articulado.
En partant de la ligne d'analyse «médecine et empire», l'article discute les pratiques médicales de Goa au xixème siècle, en faisant une référence particulière à son Ecole Médicale. Bien que célébrée en raison du rôle qu'elle a joué dans la consolidation de l'empire portugais en Afrique, cette institution ne doit pas être considérée un simple «instrument de l'empire»: l'administration portugaise a peu collaboré à sa fondation, en 1842, ou à la promotion des médecins goais qui ont effectivement servi en Afrique au xixème siècle. Le jeu des intérêts locaux prédominait alors, et ce n'est qu'au xixème siècle que ceux-ci ont été mis au service d'un projet colonial plus articulé.
This article aims to expand the scope of «medicine and empire» studies by introducing data and analysis regarding Portuguese colonialism and its medical services. The main focus is given to the role of the Medical School of Goa, India. Twentieth century literature refers to this institution as central to empire-building in Africa and Asia, suggesting that it may be understood as a «tool of empire». Nineteenth century sources, however, reveal a fragile institution that had little support of the central administration. Further analysis indicates that the Portuguese had little saying besides the formalities in which the school was wrapped; most of the action and decision making was taken by native Goans, whose early trajectories in Africa did not gather consensual support from the Portuguese colonial authorities. I argue that the Medical School of Goa was founded in 1842 not as an act of imperial administration - as the Portuguese had difficulties in erasing local medical practices by promoting European medicine - but in spite of it. Only towards the twentieth century, when the project of empire-building in Africa became central to the Portuguese, was the Medical School of Goa embraced by the central administration and Goan physicians appreciated for their work in the colonial health services.