Hospital de Amor

About Hospital de Amor

In the 1960s, the only specialized cancer treatment hospital was in the state capital of São Paulo. Patients who arrived at Hospital São Judas Tadeu in Barretos with cancer were mostly low-income individuals with a high rate of illiteracy. They faced difficulties seeking treatment in the capital due to lack of resources, fear of big cities, and unpredictable availability of hospital beds. This small hospital had only four doctors: Dr. Paulo Prata, Dr. Scylla Duarte Prata, Dr. Miguel Gonçalves, and Dr. Domingos Boldrini. They worked full-time with exclusive dedication, a single budget, and personalized treatment – a philosophy that fueled the institution's growth. Due to the high patient demand and the old, small hospital's inability to accommodate the expansion, Dr. Paulo Prata, the visionary founder, received a donation of land on the outskirts of the city. He proposed the construction of a new hospital to meet the growing needs. In 1989, Henrique Prata, son of the founding doctor couple, embraced his father's vision. With the help of local farmers, he advanced the project further. The Antenor Duarte Villela pavilion, housing the new hospital's outpatient clinic, was inaugurated on December 6, 1991. Continuing the project, which was gaining significant momentum with the community's, artists', and private sector's support, along with government funding, other hospital areas were constructed to provide free care to cancer patients. In November 2017, the institution adopted the nickname by which it was already known among patients, families, doctors, and partners, becoming "Hospital de Amor" (Hospital of Love). The entity strives for excellence in hospital medical care through humanizing actions, continuous technical and professional development, and scientific dissemination of teaching and research, enabling us to absorb the increasing demand and strengthen the public healthcare system.