Chile Ministry of Health expands oncology infrastructure projects

The Chilean Ministry of Health has introduced the 2026-2030 Oncology Investment Plan to strengthen the public healthcare network for cancer detection, diagnosis, and treatment. The initiative includes 25 projects linked to the National Cancer Plan, with 10 currently under execution. Key locations for these developments include Calama, Arica, Iquique, Copiapó, Valparaíso, Chillán, Concepción, Temuco, Puerto Montt, and Coyhaique.

In the Biobío region, the Ministry has prioritized the construction of the Macroregional Oncology Center in Concepción. This project, located near the Guillermo Grant Benavente Regional Hospital, involves an estimated investment of $100 billion CLP. The 16,500-square-meter facility is intended to provide high-complexity services, such as radiotherapy, to the Biobío and Southern Macrozone regions. The design phase is scheduled to begin in 2027, with construction projected to start in 2029.

The broader national goal is to ensure that by 2035, all regions of Chile have access to complex oncological services, reducing the need for patients to travel long distances for specialized care. Additionally, the plan aims to increase technological capacity, specifically targeting an increase in linear accelerators for teletherapy from 19 to 24 by 2030, alongside improvements in brachytherapy and diagnostic nuclear medicine.