Latin American public healthcare management irregularities

Public healthcare systems in several Latin American countries are facing scrutiny due to infrastructure failures, mismanagement, and administrative irregularities.

In Mexico, officials have called for the closure of the “Dr. Fernando Ocaranza” ISSSTE hospital in Hermosillo, Sonora, citing a lack of structural integrity documentation and zero budget allocations for maintenance in 2025 and 2026. Additionally, the Secretaría de Marina and Cofepris have fully suspended a hospital in Acapulco, Guerrero, after discovering significant sanitary irregularities. This inspection, prompted by alerts regarding the potential diversion of controlled medications to the United States, revealed expired, potentially contaminated, and unregistered foreign medications, alongside a lack of proper documentation for narcotics custody. The seizure of the facility and supplies has an estimated economic impact of 100 million pesos.

In Paraguay, the Public Ministry is investigating the Instituto de Previsión Social (IPS) over a 61 billion guaraní contract involving “ghost operating rooms” that were never completed. Prosecutors found that certain hospital floors could not support the weight of intended surgical equipment, and nine individuals face charges.

In Colombia, the Ministry of Health and Social Protection has implemented an emergency plan to strengthen oversight following a negative accounting opinion from the Comptroller's Office. This identified a 2.9 trillion peso gap between commitments and actual transfers, as well as 108 projects worth over 365 billion pesos that lacked budgetary registration. Consequently, the Ministry has temporarily suspended all new contracts, agreements, and extensions. The Ministry has also filed criminal complaints regarding audio recordings in which unauthorized individuals allegedly demanded 8% commissions in the name of the Minister and her team.

In Chile, audits of the Herminda Martín Clinical Hospital revealed major discrepancies in surgical waiting list records. In Peru, the Tacna Municipal Polyclinic was found to be operating without required sanitary authorization.