The Chilean government has announced a cross-referencing of databases with the Ministry of Social Development to identify the relatives of approximately one thousand socio-sanitary patients who remain hospitalized without support networks. The measure aims to determine if there are family members receiving pensions who are failing to take responsibility for their relatives' care.
Health Minister May Chomali warned that the number of patients medically cleared for discharge who continue to occupy beds in the public system is equivalent to the capacity of "two full hospitals." This situation is placing critical pressure on the country's healthcare network.
Juan Luis Castro (PS), President of the Senate Health Commission, noted that the core issue is family abandonment rather than medical complications. "It is less about a medical situation and more about them being abandoned by their families. That is the grave part," the lawmaker stated.
Castro indicated that legal reforms will be sought to tighten the obligations of family members. "We are going to interpret family law so that there are clear definitions and obligations, ensuring that abandonment of individuals is addressed in Chile," he asserted.
Impact on the hospital network
The presence of these patients directly affects the operational capacity of healthcare centers. At San José Hospital, socio-sanitary patients account for 5% of bed occupancy.
Rodrigo Infante, Director of San José Hospital, warned that the prolonged stay of these patients prevents emergency care from being administered. "Currently, our hospital has 28 patients hospitalized internally, the opportunity cost of which is being unable to treat emergency patients who are currently without a bed," he explained.
The director also detailed the financial impact of external transfers. The cost of transferring a patient for one month ranges between 7 and 8 million pesos, a figure he described as "excessive for the hospital's budget."
In contrast, Padre Hurtado Hospital managed to reduce its number of patients in this condition from twelve last year to just one currently. This result was achieved through coordination between the Bed Management Unit and the Social Work team, combined with a public tender and home visits to patients with fragile support networks.
