Patients in Coimbra and Lisbon to Get Robotic Surgery and Faster Scans

Portugal’s flagship cancer institutes in Coimbra and Lisbon are gearing up for a leap into next-generation diagnostics and surgery, thanks to a fresh injection of European funds. State-of-the-art scanners and robotic platforms should start arriving in hospitals over the coming year, promising shorter waits and more precise interventions.

Key Developments at a Glance

• €11.59 M allocated to the Coimbra oncology centre for heavy equipment and a robotic surgical suite

• €4.92 M earmarked for Lisbon’s cancer hospital to refresh CT scanners and add a da Vinci–style robot

• Funding drawn from Plano de Recuperação e Resiliência Component 1 under the SNS Technological Modernisation Programme

• Procurement phase set to run through 2026, with installation slated soon after contract award

How Patients Will Benefit in Coimbra and Lisbon

Coimbra’s oncology institute will serve the Centre and North regions, where advanced imaging delays have been a chronic concern. The new MRI and tomography units, paired with a robotic surgery system, aim to reduce diagnostic backlogs and enable minimally invasive tumour resections. Meanwhile, the Lisbon-Tagus Valley population stands to gain from upgraded CT capacity and an additional robot that complements the existing surgical fleet. Clinicians expect patients to spend less time waiting for scans and recover faster from procedures that once required large incisions.

Under the Hood: Procurement and Timing

Both institutes received official authorisation this year to commit to contracts worth a combined €16.52 M plus VAT. Notices published in the Diário da República detail that tendering must conclude by mid-2026, giving suppliers an 8–12 month window for delivery, installation and staff training. Hospital administrators are already finalising technical specifications and exploring volume discounts by grouping orders with neighbouring health units. Yet precise delivery calendars remain under wraps, with each centre vowing to publish milestones once contracts are signed.

The EU Backdrop: PRR and Next Generation EU

This round of investment is part of the Serviço Nacional de Saúde’s entry in the European recovery initiative known as Next Generation EU. Under the Plano de Recuperação e Resiliência, Portugal secured a multiannual funding framework for 2021–27, dedicating Component 1 to health-sector modernisation. In all, around €117 M has been ring-fenced for 68 heavy devices and six surgical robots nationwide, with national co-financing kept below 15% to shield taxpayers from major bills.

Integrating Hardware with Digital Upgrades

These acquisitions dovetail with ongoing digital health record projects. An additional €6.2 M has been set aside for secure cloud storage of imaging data, integrated hospital networks and advanced information systems. Although some digital modules have slipped into 2026, health officials insist the overall technological overhaul remains on schedule. By linking robotic platforms to real-time patient files, multidisciplinary teams hope to streamline pre-operative planning and post-surgical follow-up.

Challenges Ahead and What to Watch For

Securing the machines is only the first step. Hospitals must ramp up staff certification on robotic interfaces, negotiate maintenance contracts and ensure equitable access across urban and rural catchments. The Central Administration for Health Services plans quarterly dashboards so citizens can track procurement progress and installation rates. If timelines hold, Portugal could enter 2027 with one of Southern Europe’s highest robot-to-patient ratios, reshaping standard care protocols for oncology within the SNS.