Earthquake in
Chile leaves hospitals with 4,000 beds out of use
SANTIAGO DE CHILE, March 7.—The healthcare system
should always be operative in normal conditions and
situations of pandemics or natural disasters because,
at the end of the day, it is the sector that saves
lives, stressed Pablo Rodríguez, president of the
Chilean Medical College, PL reports.
Rodríguez
was quoted in that context by today’s La Nación
newspaper, which notes that the damage suffered by
Chilean hospitals as a result of the earthquake of
February 27 put 4,000 beds out of use.
The newspaper states that close to 15% of the
public sector capacity has been affected and quotes
the example of Rancagua Regional Hospital, which was
forced to send 100 patients to other medical centers,
although its first floor is still functional.
Rodríguez highlighted the need to invest in
reconstruction and new hospitals, which would
involve a capital sum of $4 billion.
He added that this major disaster has exposed the
need to continue increasing healthcare budgets.
The article in La Nación, titled "The
ruins of Chilean hospitals," lists the most damaged
medical facilities in the southern localities of
Talca, Angol, Lebu, Curicó, Curanilahue, Lota,
Putaendo, Parral and Constitución, plus two in the
capital.
A Notimex report states that a total of eight
aftershocks have been registered today in Chile, the
largest of magnitude 5.8 on the Richter scale in the
Bio Bio region, 530 km. south of Santiago.
