Chile expands pediatric home care program and plans new chemotherapy unit

The Hospital de Coquimbo’s Hospitalización Domiciliaria program now provides specialized pediatric care at patients’ homes, serving 18 children, including a two‑year‑old born at 28 weeks who relies on oxygen and a gastrostomy. A multidisciplinary team of pediatricians, nurses, kinesiologists and support staff conducts daily visits, aiming to speed recovery, reduce family stress and free hospital beds. In June, 192 patients received home care, with only three requiring readmission.

In the Aconcagua Region, the San Felipe Hospital San Camilo is awaiting the installation of an air‑handling unit needed to open a new chemotherapy suite. The construction was completed months ago, but delays in acquiring the unit from Italy have pushed the expected commissioning to October‑November 2026. Once operational, the suite will treat certain adult cancers locally, reducing the need for patients to travel to Valparaíso or Santiago.

Both initiatives reflect Chile’s effort to broaden access to health services and improve patient care outside traditional hospital settings.