Health chief sacked over bedless hospital decision

A health chief has been sacked for allowing Chile’s president to inaugurate a public hospital so poorly prepared, it had to borrow beds and have one of its employees pose as a patient.

President Michelle Bachelet presided over the opening of the hospital in the town of Curepto, 200 miles south of Santiago, on February 29. Standing by her side was regional health director Gerardo Herrera.

But Chilean media later reported that the hospital had borrowed its beds and that one of the “patients” interviewed by reporters at the inauguration was really a hospital worker.

“You don’t lie to the 10,000 residents of Curepto, and you don’t lie to the president,” Ms Bachelet’s spokesman Francisco Vidal said.

“What ultimately is very good for Curepto ... is lost as a result of the foolishness of handing it over when it isn’t ready.”

Mr Herrera had given assurances “in writing” that the hospital was ready, Mr Vidal said.

Mr Herrera told reporters that the hospital was functioning. But an official in Curepto area, who asked not to be identified, said “attention is limited” there.

The hospital returned the borrowed beds and expects to receive others.