Luz Saúde
Profile
Luz Saúde is one of Portugal’s most important private healthcare companies. Workers go on regular strikes at hospitals and old people’s homes run by the company, demanding better pay, the implementation of a collective bargaining agreement, as well as an end to union repression. Unions have alleged on several occasions, at several different facilities, over the course of several years, that their members were prohibited from meeting with Luz Saúde staff, defying Portugal’s freedom of association laws.
Private hospitals and old people's homes
Violations
Violation data is still being gathered for Luz Saúde at this time.
Stories
- ADSE - IP: An achievement of workers that must remain public and solidary by the European Public Service Union (2019)
Activism
Aveiro: Private health sector joins the day of indignation and protest
Terra Nova | February 9, 2023
Hospital da Luz employees gathered to demand their rights be respected.
Hospital da Luz workers unanimously approve strike on April 26th
Confederação Geral dos Trabalhadores Portugueses | April 8, 2022
One day of striking will be a demonstration to the administration that the workers will show their discontent and that they are united in the struggle for a fair increase in wages for all and in the demand for the application of their collective bargaining agreement (CCT).
“Greed and Profit Virus” dominates private health groups
Confederação Geral dos Trabalhadores Portugueses | October 19, 2021
The Employers' Association of Private Hospitalization (APHP), which represents, among others, Luz Saúde, CUF and the Lusíadas Group, continues to incessantly seek the withdrawal of workers' rights so that they have even more profits.
Complaints of low wages in the private hospital sector
Confederação Geral dos Trabalhadores Portugueses | July 2, 2021
The protest and struggle for better wages and for the negotiation of collective bargaining in the private hospital sector was brought to the door of three institutions: Hospital da Luz, in Póvoa de Varzim, belonging to the Luz Saúde Group, Casa de Saúde São Lázaro, in Braga, and Hospital Lusíadas, of Grupo Lusíadas, also in Braga.
Union denounces repression at Hospital da Luz
Abril Abril | March 15, 2019
The protest action took place today at lunchtime, next to Hospital da Luz, bringing together workers and union leaders, who, in addition to several protest cries, distributed pamphlets to patients criticizing Luz Saúde's misconduct.
New strike at Luz Saúde call center in Vila Nova de Gaia
Abril Abril | August 19, 2017
Workers who are currently at Hospital da Arrábida, in Vila Nova de Gaia, would be forced to travel 40 kilometers a day to Póvoa de Varzim, without “accessible public transport and adequate timetables from the Póvoa de Varzim metro station” to the new place of work if they accept the transfer.
Portugal:
- General Union of Workers (UGT)
- General Confederation of Portuguese Workers (CGTP - IN)
- Portuguese Nurses Union (SEP)
- Trade, Office and Services Workers Union of Portugal (CESP)
- Union of Workers in the Hospitality, Tourism, Restaurants and Similar Industries of the North
- Union of State Technical Staff and Public Purpose Entities (STE)
- South Zone Physicians Union (SMZS)
- Order of Physicians
- Consumer Protection (Deco Proteste)
- Public Institute of Participatory Management (ADSE)
- Solidarity Response Platform
& Lawsuits
Regulator fines Lusíadas and Hospital da Luz for discriminating against ADSE users in appointments
Público | March 21, 2023
The Regulatory Health Entity (ERS) fined Lusíadas SA and Hospital da Luz SA for discriminating against patients who scheduled appointments through the national health service (ADSE), in comparison with private or insured patients.
Fine of 190 million euros for private hospitals
Inês Schreck | Jornal de Notícias | July 1, 2022
The Competition Authority (AdC) concluded that Trofa, Mello, Lusíadas and Luz Saúde, as well as the Hospital Particular do Algarve, coordinated the strategy and negotiating position to be adopted in the context of negotiations with the public health system (ADSE)...
Aveiro private hospital sentenced in case of death of woman after surgery
Diário de Notícias | February 3, 2022
The Supreme Court of Justice (STJ) confirmed the sentencing of Hospital da Luz de Aveiro to pay compensation of 71,000 euros to the son of a woman who died after stomach reduction surgery.
"Impermissible promiscuity": Left Bloc asks for clarification on PPP hospitals in Cascais and Loures
Esquerda | May 16, 2019
The Left Bloc's request also refers to Hospital Beatriz Ângelo de Loures (HBA), from where it received complaints from "patients who are transferred from Hospital da Luz to the HBA after undergoing complicated surgeries or hospitalizations, in order to continue the treatments, once the limits of insurance are exhausted".
Abuse of power and corruption. After all, what are the cases that led the judiciary police to the Lisbon City Council?
TSF Rádio Notícias | May 16, 2019
Among the cases in question are three that had already been announced in 2017 as being the subject of investigation, such as the contract canceled by the municipality in the Second Circular, Torre de Picoas and Hospital da Luz.
Luz Saúde confirms its premises were searched by the Competition Authority (AdC) and says it is willing to collaborate
RTP | May 10, 2019
The searches are aimed at obtaining evidence of anti-competitive practices, clarifying the AdC that they do not mean that the targeted companies will be condemned, nor do they imply a judgment on the culpability of their conduct in the market.
Luz Saúde paid not to reinstate a worker with a precarious relationship
Confederação Geral dos Trabalhadores Portugueses | May 10, 2016
The worker, informed by the union delegates that she was fired illegally, turned to the union's legal services, which promptly took the case to the Labor Court. The company was then made to pay a compensation of 5,500 euros to the worker, so as not to have to reinstate her in her post and place of work...
& Relations
Grupo Luz Saúde threatened workers on strike
Abril Abril | March 20, 2023
The CESP/CGTP-IN union is warning against "hijacking the right to strike" at Luz Saúde. The auxiliary workers who joined the Saturday strike are being threatened by the bosses with unjustified absences.
The Directorate-General for Social Protection for Workers in the Public Sector (ADSE) Council calls exclusions announced by CUF and Luz Saúde "unethical"
Maria Caetano | Diário de Notícias | September 7, 2021
ADSE's General and Supervisory Board considers it "unacceptable and unethical" that the CUF and Luz Saúde groups exclude treatments and surgeries previously scheduled for dates after the entry into force of new price lists, which took place on September 1.
Shopping vouchers for nurses to attract other health professionals "outrages" Left Bloc and nurses
Observador | November 18, 2020
Hospital Beatriz Ângelo, in Loures, and the SNS24 Line are offering shopping vouchers to supermarket chains as incentives to health providers, a measure that “outraged” the Left Bloc and professional associations.
Luz Saúde "deals badly" with freedom of association
Abril Abril | October 15, 2019
In a press release, the Trade, Office and Services Workers Union of Portugal (CESP/CGTP-IN) reveals that, yesterday, managers were prevented from contacting workers at the facilities of the company Luz Saúde located at Quinta do Lambert, in Lisbon.
Union accuses Loures Hospital administration of blocking appointments
TSF Rádio Notícias | May 31, 2019
This Friday, the South Zone Doctors Union called out the Loures Hospital's blocking of scheduling second consultations, having already made a complaint to the administration and requested an audit to the Ministry of Health.
Luz Saúde prevents union from contacting workers
Abril Abril | February 8, 2019
"In fact, at the previously scheduled time, the directors were received by three security chiefs, who said that they were not authorized by Luz Saúde to develop union activity and that they would have to leave the premises", says the Trade, Office and Services Workers Union of Portugal (CESP).
Union denounces precariousness at Hospital da Luz Arrábida, in Gaia
Saúde Online | December 14, 2016
“This is a company that systematically refuses to dialogue with the union. We have asked for meetings with the Luz Saúde Group and here with the administration of Hospital da Arrábida, but they have been denied,” he said.
Union prohibited from meeting with workers at Hospital da Luz, in Guimarães
Porto Canal | July 7, 2016
The union publicly denounced what happened because the Portuguese Constitution emphasizes the right to assembly as a fundamental right of workers. Therefore, what happened is considered "an attack on the right to assembly by the Luz Saúde group", read the communiqué.
Covid-19
Private hospitals continue to charge COVID fees, with rates reaching 150 euros
Beatriz Madaleno de Assunção | CNN Portugal | June 10, 2022
The Health Regulatory Authority (ERS) confirmed, in May 2020, the right of private healthcare providers to include the extra related to the price of personal protective equipment (PPE) in the costs charged to patients. However, two years have passed and the country is no longer in a state of emergency, but companies continue charging these fees.
Luz Saúde Group vaccinates the CEO and other non-priority staff
Esquerda | February 5, 2021
Meanwhile, the newspaper Expresso reports that Isabel Vaz, CEO of Luz Saúde Group, has already been vaccinated, despite her age and no pathologies to justify it.
Pregnant women who test positive for covid-19 are refused in private hospitals
Público | September 10, 2020
Hospital da Luz also only guarantees scheduled deliveries to infected women at the Lisbon unit.
Private hospitals are charging consumers for protective equipment. Deco is asking the regulator for clarification
Esquerda | April 21, 2020
A Portuguese Association for Consumer Protection (DECO) official says that "this charge is in fact taking place and is widespread in the various private health units", with complaints about CUF, Lusíadas and Luz Saúde.
Hospital da Luz requires in-person work in call centers where protection is lacking
Esquerda | April 15, 2020
The Solidarity Response Platform alleges that the Luz Saúde Group is forcing most of its workers in the call centers of Hospital da Luz, in Lisbon and Vila Real, to go to work in its facilities without complying with the distancing rules or providing sufficient protective material.
Private hospitals are charging consumers for protective equipment. Deco is asking the regulator for clarification
Esquerda | April 21, 2020
A Portuguese Association for Consumer Protection (DECO) official says that "this charge is in fact taking place and is widespread in the various private health units", with complaints about CUF, Lusíadas and Luz Saúde.
Financials
- Luz Saúde's subsidiaries (as of 2020) - p. 48
49% of Luz Saúde's shares are held by Fosun International.
There are six groups interested in the Lusíadas group, including Luz Saúde
Sapo | March 4, 2022
The sale of the Lusíadas group, which is currently owned by the largest private healthcare group in the world, the North American United Healthcare, is very competitive. On the table will be six non-binding proposals, many of which are foreign, mainly from Spanish companies, but also from French ones.
49% of Luz Saúde's capital is transferred to Fosun International
Observador | January 24, 2018
In the middle of this month, Fosun International concluded the purchase of 46,815,704 shares from the insurance company Fidelidade, representing 49% of the share capital and voting rights, the group announced this Tuesday.
Procurement
Private healthcare companies demand millions from the state for pandemic losses
Esquerda | February 2, 2022
According to Jornal de Notícias (JN), the Luz Saúde group has already submitted a request for financial rebalancing to the Regional Administration of Lisbon and Tagus Valley (ARS LVT). In the absence of a response, the private group will resort to the justice system.
Grupo Luz Saúde got the most in public funding during the pandemic
Zap | October 21, 2020
GLSMed Trade, from the Luz Saúde group, was the company that earned the most in contracts made by the Public Administration to respond to the pandemic, Público found this Wednesday.