Madeira could soon offer T-cell therapy to patients with certain types of lymphoma, allowing them to receive treatment locally rather than travel to mainland Portugal.
Regional Secretary for Health and Civil Protection, Micaela Freitas, announced the development yesterday morning at the opening of the HemaOnco Day 2026 conference at the Jesuit College in Funchal.
The necessary equipment was installed at Dr Nélio Mendonça Hospital earlier this year, and healthcare professionals have already completed their training. However, the service is awaiting formal approval from the Portuguese Institute of Blood and Transplantation before treatment can begin.
Currently, around six patients a year travel from Madeira to one of four specialist centres on the mainland for this treatment. The Regional Government estimates that a local service could treat approximately 11 patients annually.
Micaela Freitas said the therapy is currently authorised for certain types of lymphoma, but its use could eventually be extended to other diseases, potentially benefiting more patients.
She also highlighted the disruption caused by travelling for treatment. Patients effectively have to put their lives on hold for a period, she said, while those accompanying them also face time away from home.
Márcia Alves, a lecturer and member of the conference’s organising team, explained that T-cells form part of the immune system, helping the body fight infections and foreign substances.
The treatment involves collecting a patient’s blood and extracting T-cells, which are then modified and multiplied in a laboratory. These “re-educated” cells are infused back into the patient to recognise and attack tumour cells.
The process requires carefully coordinated transport, storage and reinfusion, together with specialist monitoring to manage potentially serious side effects.
Chemotherapy remains part of the treatment process. T-cell therapy is generally used in haematology and is not a first-line treatment.
Samantha Gannon
info at madeira-weekly.com
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