Sixty years is a long time for any organisation to be in business. Here are some of the major milestones in our story, and in the history of health and medical science.
1940sBupa's story begins
1947 Bupa starts with 38,000 customers in the UK, enabling people to choose where, when and by whom they're treated.
1948 The UK National Health Service (NHS) is established to provide "A Health Service for all ages and all citizens…"
1950sPost-war economic reality causes funding restraints in the UK NHS
1950 Bupa's first major company-paid group scheme starts… for the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC).
1951 A study carried out in British hospitals raises suspicions of the link between lung cancer and smoking.
1957 Bupa helps to form Nuffield Hospitals Trust and provides ongoing capital.
1960sBupa registrations reach 400,000 with 4,000 company groups
1962 Bupa helps to set up the International Federation of Voluntary Health Service Funds in support of the growth in private healthcare across the globe.
1967 Dr Christiaan Barnard performs the first heart transplant in Cape Town, South Africa.
1970sBupa fights the UK Government's threat to remove private practice from the NHS, maintaining the right to choose private treatment
1970 Bupa opens our first screening centre. Today we have the largest network of screening centres in Europe.
1971 Bupa's first overseas business is established in Malta.
1973 Bupa Medical Research is set up as an independent charity. It aims to use information generated from screening to improve health screening further.
1975 Bupa Hospitals is formed.
1976 Bupa expands into Asia with the opening of our Hong Kong business.
1979 The Bupa Foundation is established. The Foundation is an independent medical research charity that funds medical research to prevent, relieve and cure sickness and ill health.
1980sBupa joins forces with the UK NHS on several key projects, including refresher courses for nurses
1981 Bupa opens its first purpose-built hospital, heralding a rapid hospital building and acquisition programme.
1982 Bupa International launched to provide worldwide medical cover to people working outside their home country.
1983 The first successful transfer of a human embryo takes place in America.
1986 Bupa begins working with universities in the postgraduate training of doctors, and with the National Association of Theatre Nurses to increase safety and effectiveness of care.
1988 Bupa MediCall is introduced as a telephone-based, 24-hour health information service.
1989 Bupa acquires Sanitas, the largest private healthcare organisation in Spain which, like Bupa, offers medical insurance and runs its own hospitals and clinics.
1990sThe first human gene experiment takes place at the USA National Institute of Health, heralding a new era of scientific research
1992 The first Teddies childcare nursery is born in the south of England with the aim of giving children the best start in life.
1994 Bupa Dental Cover is launched with 2,800 dentists looking after 100,000 people. And Bupa Travel Services launches a new range of single trip and annual cover schemes.
Bupa Health Assurance was established in the UK to allow Bupa to develop into other health-related protection markets.
1996 New major ventures include:
- Bupa Ireland and Bupa Thailand
- Bupa Care Homes is started with the purchase of 30 homes
1997 The birth of Bupa Middle East (now Bupa Arabia)
Bupa acquired Goldsborough Estates
Goldsborough Estates manages private retirement and assisted living developments throughout the UK, providing services to c.1,000 retired people
Bupa acquired Surgichem
SurgiChem Limited was first established in 1989 and was incorporated into the Bupa portfolio when it was acquired as part of the Care First acquisition in 1997. SurgiChem offers a range of monitored dosage systems, medication cabinets, trolleys and medical fridges to over 4,500 pharmacies throughout the UK, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand.
1998 Acquisition of four major care operators in the UK forms UK Bupa Care Services.
Bupa takes over UK cash plan provider the Coventry and Warwickshire Hospital Saturday Fund, which was founded in 1870 as the first hospital contributory scheme in the country.
1999 Acquisition of Barbican Healthcare in the UK, later to become Bupa Wellness.
2000sBupa membership reaches 10 million in 195 countries, with a further 23.2 million lives served by Health Dialog
2002 Acquisition of AXA Australia Healthcare, Bupa becomes a major player in the Australian health insurance market.
2005 Bupa International acquires AMEDEX now Bupa Latin America and the Caribbean and ihi danmark now ihi Bupa.
2006 Bupa sets up a Representative Office in China.
Acquisition of Clinovia in England, later to become Bupa Home Healthcare.
2007 The acquisition of Health Dialog means Bupa is the sole owner of the USA care management company.
Bupa acquires Amity Group in Australia and Guardian Health Care in New Zealand as a natural extension of our UK aged care specialism.
2008 Over 3,500 children now attend 24 Teddies childcare nurseries with over 90 percent of parents and guardians believing we treat their children as individuals.
Mounting pressure from operating hospitals and insurance in the same group results in the sale of Bupa Hospitals in the UK.
Proposed regulatory changes in Ireland result in the sale of Bupa Ireland.
The acquisition of MBF makes Bupa the largest private provider of health insurance in Australia and our partnership with Max India sees us enter one of the world's fastest growing economies.
Bupa acquires the Cromwell Hospital in London, England.
Bupa Middle East becomes Bupa Arabia.
