Oncology Centre expected to treat 3,500 patients per year
A new state-of-the-art healthcare facility specialising in cancer prevention, diagnosis, and treatment is set to be established in the Algarve, thanks to substantial financial backing from European Union (EU) cohesion funds.
Once operational, this innovative centre will provide crucial services to 3,500 patients annually, with a projected reach of 14,200 patients by 2029.
The project, financed under the Algarve 2030 community funding programme as part of the broader Portugal 2030 initiative, represents a €12 million investment, with €8 million due to come from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and the remaining €4 million provided by the Algarve University Hospital Centre (CHUA).
The Oncology Centre is due to be built in Parque das Cidades between Loulé and Faro, on land provided by the local municipalities, near the Algarve Stadium and the long-promised but yet-to-be-built Algarve Central Hospital.
With the European Commission predicting cancer cases to increase by 35% until 2035, the upcoming centre is expected to play a pivotal role in addressing the expected rising incidence of cancer in the coming years.
As the Algarve’s regional development commission (CCDR Algarve) explains in a communiqué to the press, the project is part of a larger effort to provide vital cancer treatment to thousands of cancer patients in the Algarve and Alentejo, who currently must travel around 300 kilometres to Lisbon or Seville (Spain) to receive the care they need.
This investment aligns with the European Commission’s Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan, as well as Portugal’s National Cancer Strategy 2021-2030, which aims to expand timely access to public healthcare services in oncology across the country.
Beyond its immediate healthcare benefits, the centre is expected to foster research in oncology, drawing qualified professionals to the region and boosting the Algarve’s role in medical innovation, CCDR Algarve adds.
The regional development commission also says that the official invitation to apply for funding has already been announced, meaning CHUA has until December 30 to complete and submit their application for EU funding via the Algarve 2030 programme.
