“CUF is strengthening healthcare in the Algarve”

The acquisition of the HPA Saúde Group by CUF has now been completed, marking one of the most significant changes in private healthcare in the Algarve in recent years.

In an interview with Barlavento, Pedro Bastos, who oversees the group’s healthcare units in the Algarve, Alentejo and Madeira, said the main change for patients will be the integration of HPA’s Algarve units into the country’s largest private healthcare network, giving local teams access to broader clinical expertise, shared systems and stronger national coordination.

Patients will also benefit from CUF’s “nationally recognised specialist services, including its 40-year oncology network — the largest private provider of cancer diagnosis and treatment in Portugal”.

“The main change is the integration of the Algarve healthcare units into the largest national healthcare network,” he said. “For patients, this means greater coordination between teams, greater continuity of care and access to a broader network of scientific knowledge and clinical differentiation”.

One of the most practical changes will be the ability for doctors in the Algarve, as well as in Alentejo and Madeira, to access the clinical information of patients who have previously received care elsewhere in the CUF healthcare network. Pedro Bastos said this will improve clinical safety by giving professionals a fuller view of each patient’s healthcare journey.

He added that the integration will also give patients in the Algarve easier access to CUF Oncology’s multidisciplinary teams, clinical research and innovative therapies, allowing cancer patients to benefit from the group’s expertise regardless of where they first enter the CUF network.

The message Pedro Bastos wants to convey to the people of the Algarve is one of “confidence, stability and long-term vision”.

National network, local roots

HPA has built a strong presence in the Algarve over more than two decades, with a reputation closely tied to the region and its communities. That local relationship is one of the most important aspects of the transition to CUF ownership. CUF says it does not intend to erase that identity, but to build on it.

“That proximity is a very important asset and we do not want to lose it. On the contrary, we want to value it,” Pedro Bastos said. “HPA’s Algarve units have a very relevant history, built by local teams and by the trust established with the population”.

Integration into CUF, he added, “does not erase that legacy but adds the strength of a national network, with greater capacity for coordination, knowledge-sharing and development.”

For the Algarve’s international community, the change is also relevant. The region has a large foreign resident population, as well as strong seasonal demand from tourists. Many foreign residents already rely on private healthcare for its speed, language accessibility and continuity of care.

CUF acknowledged that foreign residents, permanent residents, national visitors and tourists are all important to the network’s presence in the Algarve. Communication around the CUF brand will be introduced “gradually and clearly”, explaining what changes and what remains the same.

For foreign residents in particular, Pedro Bastos highlighted “trust, accessibility and the long-term continuity of care” as key factors.

What changes for patients?

CUF’s central promise is that Algarve patients will now be better connected to a broader healthcare network. This may be particularly important for patients who live in the Algarve but travel regularly to Lisbon, Porto or other parts of the country.

Within the CUF network, clinical information will be more readily available across different hospitals and clinics, allowing doctors to make better-informed decisions and reducing the fragmentation that can occur when care is delivered in different locations.

The benefit also works in the opposite direction. A patient usually followed in another CUF hospital or clinic who needs care in the Algarve will be able to draw on the capacity and experience of the local teams.

Pedro Bastos also pointed to oncology as one of the areas where integration may bring particular benefits. He said CUF Oncology has 40 years of experience and is the largest private provider of cancer diagnosis in Portugal, and the third largest nationally when public and private hospitals are considered, according to the National Oncology Registry.

Through multidisciplinary teams, clinical research and access to innovative therapies, patients in the Algarve “will gradually benefit from a more specialised level of care”, regardless of where they begin their treatment journey within the network.

Building strong foundations first

Despite the scale of the integration, CUF is not yet announcing new buildings or major infrastructure projects for the Algarve.

According to Pedro Bastos, the current priority is integrating teams, processes, systems and clinical knowledge. He described this as the most important investment at this stage because of its direct impact on quality, safety and continuity of care.

Future investment has not been ruled out, however, “any decision on new services, facilities or infrastructure will be based on the needs of the population and the evolution of demand”.

CUF is taking the same cautious approach to new medical specialties. Rather than announcing specific new areas, the group is first assessing where its national network can add the most value to local teams and patients.

The Algarve is becoming increasingly competitive in private healthcare, with Lusíadas Saúde also investing €60 million in a new hospital in Faro. CUF does not see this as a sign of excessive supply, but rather as evidence of confidence in the region.

“The Algarve is a region with very specific characteristics: it has a growing resident population, a strong presence of foreign residents and very significant seasonal demand linked to tourism,” said Pedro Bastos.

Healthcare staff remain key challenge

Like the public system, private healthcare providers face growing pressure to attract and retain doctors, nurses and other health professionals. CUF recognises that staff shortages are a major challenge, especially in regions such as the Algarve.

Its response is to offer healthcare professionals “a long-term career opportunity” with access to training, professional development, collaboration across teams, and career opportunities within a national network.

As Bastos pointed out, CUF was again named the most attractive healthcare company to work for in Portugal in the Randstad Employer Brand Research study, and also ranked among the top 10 most attractive employers in the country.

Community engagement and digital innovation

HPA has long been active beyond hospital walls, organising scientific events, health screenings and other community health initiatives. CUF says this commitment will continue, with training, health literacy and community engagement remaining strategic priorities.

Pedro Bastos said the work already carried out by HPA has “great value”, while the expertise of areas such as CUF Oncology will help bring the Algarve closer to national research, innovation and knowledge-sharing projects.

Innovation and digital transformation will also play an increasingly important role.

Artificial intelligence is already supporting areas such as diagnosis, clinical information analysis, process optimisation and the patient experience. However, Pedro Bastos stressed that AI “is intended to support healthcare professionals by improving accuracy, speed and safety, not to replace clinical decision-making”.

A long-term commitment to the Algarve

CUF now holds a 75% stake in the former HPA Group. In practical terms, this means the Algarve Hospitals and clinics become part of CUF’s governance, processes and strategic planning. But the group insists the integration will be gradual and that local knowledge will remain central.

“Integration into a national network does not mean distancing ourselves from local reality,” says Pedro Bastos. “On the contrary, we want to combine the strength of the CUF network with the knowledge of our local teams”.

Looking ahead five to 10 years, Pedro Bastos said he believes Algarve residents will come to see CUF’s presence in the Algarve as a turning point for private healthcare in the region, bringing greater quality, safety and confidence.