New Hospital da Luz has opened in Portugal

Hospital da Luz Ribatejo, in Santarém—a private investment of about 60 million euros—began opening its services in phases on 20 October, with over 40 speciality consultations and clinical laboratory tests already available for booking.

By Íris Marçal, in News · 21 Oct 2026, 14:33 · 0 Comments

Credits: Unsplash; Author: Martha Dominguez de Gouveia;

According to information released by Luz Saúde, the facility will become operational gradually over the coming months, with the full range of healthcare services expected to be available by the first quarter of 2027.

Located in the southern part of the city of Santarém, near the Retail Park and accessible via the A1, A13, and A15 motorways, the institution states that Hospital da Luz Ribatejo was designed to serve a population of approximately 480,000 people in the region.

Once fully operational, the hospital will offer speciality consultations, clinical laboratory tests, and an imaging centre equipped for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT), mammography, ultrasound, and X-rays. It will also provide diagnostic examinations in cardiology, ophthalmology, and digestive and respiratory endoscopy.

The facility will further feature a surgical suite with four operating rooms, an inpatient unit with 44 beds (including intermediate care), an oncology centre, a dental medicine centre, and an urgent care service.

According to the information provided, Hospital da Luz Ribatejo will operate in clinical coordination with Hospital da Luz Lisboa and will be part of the group’s healthcare network.

The Mayor of Santarém noted that establishing Hospital da Luz Ribatejo represents a significant investment for the municipality, both in job creation and in strengthening healthcare services in the region. At the last municipal executive meeting, João Leite expressed satisfaction with the opening of the private facility, noting that it is the “largest private hospital between Lisbon and Porto” and that the project is expected to create about 400 jobs.

“We are very happy and satisfied that Santarém will now have (...) the largest private hospital between Lisbon and Porto,” he stated, adding that the private investment associated with the new facility amounts to approximately 60 million euros.

The mayor also highlighted the healthcare sector’s importance in the municipality, noting that the Lezíria Local Health Unit currently employs over 2,500 people, a figure that will increase with the approximately 400 professionals at Hospital da Luz Ribatejo.

According to João Leite, the coexistence of public and private healthcare options benefits the population, and the municipality now has “three significant, large-scale facilities”: the Santarém District Hospital, Hospital CUF Santarém, and Hospital da Luz Ribatejo.

“Together, these three facilities provide the positive response that the population needs,” he said, arguing that strengthening the municipality’s healthcare infrastructure helps improve citizens’ access to medical care.

The mayor also maintained that private investment in healthcare should not be seen “as competition for the National Health Service (SNS),” emphasising that the priority should be “increasing the training and availability of professionals to ensure an adequate response across both the public and private sectors.”

Appointments can be scheduled via the MY LUZ app, the network’s digital platform, or by phone.

The first Hospital da Luz emerged in 2000, following the founding of the Luz Saúde group—formerly known as Espírito Santo Saúde. After opening its first facility in 2007, Hospital da Luz in Lisbon, the group continued to expand nationwide; today, it operates 14 hospitals in Portugal, along with various clinics and specialised units across the country.