Advancing Radiotherapy in Portugal: Dr Paulo Costa on Innovation, Access and Patient Care

Technological innovation, equitable access to treatment and the importance of preserving the human relationship between doctors and patients are among the key themes explored by Dr Paulo Costa, Radiation Oncologist at Júlio Teixeira, part of Stingray Healthcare Group, in a recent interview with the Portuguese medical publication Nortemédico.

Dr Costa also serves as Director of the Radiation Oncology Department at ULS Braga, which has been operated by Júlio Teixeira since its establishment in 2012.

Drawing on his experience leading the department, he discusses advances in radiotherapy in Portugal, the challenges facing the speciality and the opportunities presented by emerging technologies.

Advanced Technology Supporting Modern Radiotherapy

Portugal has made significant progress in radiation oncology over the past decade, with technological development helping to improve treatment capabilities and bring clinical standards closer to those of leading European centres.

One example is the recent introduction of the Elekta Harmony Pro linear accelerator at Hospital de Braga, representing an investment of approximately €2.5 million.

Equipped with Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy (VMAT), the system enables precise radiation delivery adapted to individual patient anatomy while helping to limit exposure to surrounding healthy tissues.

The new equipment marks an important milestone in the ongoing modernization of the department, strengthening its treatment capabilities and supporting the delivery of advanced cancer care in the Minho region.

Improving Access to Specialised Cancer Treatment

Despite significant progress, regional inequalities in access to radiotherapy remain a challenge in Portugal.

Dr Costa emphasizes the importance of strengthening regional treatment capacity so that patients can receive specialized care closer to home, reducing the need for repeated journeys to distant centres.

Since 2012, the department operated by Júlio Teixeira has helped address a historical gap in radiotherapy provision in the Minho region.

Through collaboration with neighbouring healthcare institutions and participation in multidisciplinary treatment discussions, the department supports coordinated patient pathways and timely access to care.

This approach reflects Stingray Healthcare Group’s broader commitment to expanding access to advanced oncology services across Europe.

Artificial Intelligence and the Human Side of Cancer Care

Artificial intelligence is expected to play an increasingly important role in radiation oncology, supporting clinical workflows and improving operational efficiency.

In his interview, Dr Costa highlights its potential to reduce administrative workloads, allowing healthcare professionals to dedicate more time to direct patient care.

His perspective reinforces an important principle: technological innovation should support clinical practice while preserving the human relationships at the heart of cancer treatment.

Personalised Medicine and Clinical Expertise

Looking ahead, Dr Costa identifies personalised medicine as another important area of development, with the integration of biological, genomic and imaging data expected to support increasingly individualized radiotherapy treatments.

These advances could help optimize treatment effectiveness while reducing potentital toxicity.

However, technological progress must be accompanied by investment in people. Dr Costa highlights the challenges of attracting and retaining specialist radiation oncologists in Portugal, alongside the importance of clinical research, professional development and multidisciplinary expertise.

Connecting Innovation with Better Patient Care

Dr Costa’s interview highlights a central challenge for the future of radiation oncology: ensuring that technological progress translates into meaningful improvements in patient care.

For Stingray Healthcare Group, this requires a balanced approach that brings together modern treatment technologies, specialist clinical expertise, accessible services and sustainable healthcare delivery.

Through Júlio Teixeira, its Portuguese operation, Stingray supports the continued development of advanced radiotherapy services at Hospital de Braga and Instituto CUF Porto.

The expertise of professionals such as Dr Paulo Costa, combined with continued technological development and multidisciplinary collaboration, contributes to this shared commitment.

Ultimately, the objective of innovation is not simply to introduce more advanced technologies, but to improve the quality, accessibility and experience of treatment for patients.

Read Dr Paulo Costa’s full interview in Nortemédico magazine here