Valparaso: Former Director Ousted 9 Years Ago Over Conflict of Interest Reappointed to Lead Hospital Carlos Van Buren

He was removed for breaches of probity, said Moisds Sagredo, president of Fedeprus Valparaso – San Antonio, telling the Valparaso daily La Estrella about the unusual situation at Hospital Carlos Van Buren, where a former director who left the post nine years ago over conflicts of interest has just been reappointed to lead the facility.

The appointee is Juan Patricio Castro, whom the Valparaso – San Antonio Health Service (SSVSA) asked to resign in 2016 over the existence of an agreement between a private laboratory he represented and the Valparaso Municipal Corporation (Cormuval).

While serving as director of Hospital Van Buren, he favored a tender so that, through his laboratory, he secured all the tests that Cormuval performed at the time, which, Sagredo said, meant more than 1,500 million Chilean pesos (CLP) for Juan Patricio Castro, emphasized Moisds Sagredo.

The union leader detailed that this week they will deliver a letter to the undersecretary for Healthcare Networks, Bernardo Martorell, to voice their concern over the appointment: His relationship with us, the unions, was horrible; he didnt listen to anyone. In technical meetings he did not validate his teams, the leader said, adding there were several instances of mistreatment.

The news sparked immediate reactions. From the regional council, CORE Paula Rosso (FA) commented that there is a tremendous debt to the people of Valparaso on health matters, and it is urgent for the SSVSA to begin responding. We have waited far too long for solutions that are promised and not delivered.

As a Regional Councilor, I find it unacceptable and disrespectful to health workers and to those of us treated at Hospital Carlos Van Buren that the position be handed to someone who years ago was dismissed after it was shown there were serious conflicts of interest, added Paula Rosso.

The Medical College, meanwhile, suggested that the departure of acting director Dafne Secul was a kind of punishment for her stance on the hospitals budget, which she described as insufficient.

Along those lines, CORE Paula Rosso said that I know of Dr. Dafne Seculs work and commitment, because thanks to her and her call, we committed as a Regional Government and funding was provided to equip the Ophthalmology Unit, which had been unable to operate.

Regional media, meanwhile, also reported dissatisfaction among workers unions over the appointment of Juan Patricio Castro as the new director of Hospital Van Buren.

We will continue to report.