Mercurius Health has established itself as a European benchmark in advanced oncology solutions through the combination of strategic consulting, outsourced operations, and cutting-edge technology partnerships. This report delves into the company’s evolution, its main service lines, and the trends driving its growth, offering a comprehensive view of its role in the international healthcare landscape.
Background and Corporate Evolution
Mercurius Health was founded in 1998 in Lisbon with the goal of supporting public and private hospitals in optimizing their radiotherapy and nuclear medicine departments. Since then, the firm has expanded its team to over 120 experts in oncology, medical physics, and dosimetry, operating in four European countries and managing more than 12 active projects. Its recent acquisition by iCON Infrastructure in 2023 marked a new financial and strategic boost, following the divestment by Nexxus Iberia, which yielded an IRR above 30%.
Key Service Structure
- Turnkey Solutions
Mercurius Health designs, finances, and installs complete radiotherapy units, allowing hospitals to avoid initial investments and start payments only once the first patient is treated. This model includes:
- Architectural design and shielding
- Equipment selection (linear accelerators, brachytherapy, PET–CT)
- Regulatory permits and licensing management
- Comprehensive clinical staff training
- Operational Outsourcing
Under long-term agreements, the company takes on the daily operation of radiotherapy, advanced diagnostics, and nuclear medicine services, ensuring quality standards and continuity of care.
- Digital Platforms
The Mercurius Connect® platform enables remote treatment planning (e-Planning) through a B2B marketplace of certified dosimetrists, reducing wait times and providing double internal validation for each plan.
- Equipment Commissioning and Clinical Transformation
Specialized medical physics teams accelerate the deployment of new technologies — e.g., Halcyon, ZAP-X, or Spectral CT — without burdening in-house staff.
Table 1. Flagship Projects of Mercurius Health
| Project | Location | Main Technology | Launch Year | Key Impact |
| Advanced Radiosurgery Institute (IRCA) | Madrid, Spain | ZAP-X Gyroscopic Radiosurgery® | 2022 | First ZAP-X in Spain; 16,200 beam angles, <1 mm margin of error |
| Halcyon SAMS Unit | Lisbon, Portugal | Varian Halcyon™ linear accelerator | 2022 | First private Halcyon in Portugal, reduced noise and session time |
| Robert Janker Clinic | Bonn, Germany | Philips–Elekta integration: Spectral CT and RT systems | 2023 | German reference platform, 3-year investment in imaging and therapy |
| Comprehensive Oncology Unit SJD | Tenerife, Spain | Linear accelerator, PET–CT, brachytherapy | 2025* | First private center in Tenerife with PET–CT; 1,930 m² area |
*Estimated treatment start date: second half of 2025.
Strategic Alliances and Technology Transfer
- Philips + Elekta + Mercurius Health: three-year agreement to equip Robert Janker Klinik with spectral imaging and precision radiotherapy.
- ZAP Surgical: framework agreement to acquire five ZAP-X units and expand non-invasive radiosurgery in Europe.
- San Juan de Dios Hospital, Tenerife: joint venture to develop a state-of-the-art oncology unit with a humanistic focus.
Training and Talent Development
Mercurius Health conducts courses on C# scripting for Monaco® TPS and VMAT workshops in Eclipse™ to optimize clinical workflows. These initiatives promote the adoption of AI and automation in treatment planning, addressing the shortage of medical physicists in Europe.
Publications and Clinical Evidence
The clinical implementation of the ZAP-X system at IRCA was documented in the journal Physica Medica, highlighting the team’s expertise in small field dosimetry and quality validation. Additionally, the company publishes technical blogs covering tele-planning, treatment times, and work-sharing models.
Demographic Trends and Oncology Market
The aging European population and the resulting increase in cancer incidence drive the growing demand for efficient, scalable oncology solutions. Mercurius Health positions its services to respond quickly, thanks to its vendor-agnostic model and transnational expert network.
Challenges and Opportunities Analysis
- Shortage of qualified personnel: remote planning via Mercurius Connect® mitigates the lack of local dosimetrists.
- Cost pressure: deferred financing and shared economy models reduce risks and open markets for mid-sized centers.
- IT interoperability: the Philips–Elekta integration demonstrates Mercurius Health’s capability to harmonize complex digital ecosystems.
Conclusion
The combination of turnkey solutions, digital platforms, and technology partnerships places Mercurius Health at the forefront of European oncology. Its comprehensive approach — from project design to clinical operation and continuous training — enables hospitals of various sizes to access leading technologies without excessive financial risks. In a context of rising demand for advanced cancer treatments, Mercurius Health emerges as a strategic partner in transforming and modernizing cancer care, ensuring both operational sustainability and clinical excellence in the long term.
