Chile's Comptroller General uncovered losses of $16.071 billion at Santiago's San José Hospital from unbilled medical licenses to insurers. The February report, recently publicized, also found unrecovered improper payments and staff working during their leaves. The auditor demanded administrative investigations and will refer details to the Public Prosecutor's Office.
San José Hospital, a key facility in northern Santiago Metropolitan Region serving over 1 million patients from communes like Recoleta and Independencia, faces new irregularities flagged by the Comptroller General. A February report confirms 56,333 medical licenses worth $16.071 billion pending collection as of December 31, 2024, with prescription periods expired since 2012 for private insurers and up to 2024 for public health.
"The absence of collection efforts by the responsible entities [...] evidences a breach of duties in control and efficient public resource management," the report states. Thus, the hospital and Northern Metropolitan Health Service must implement safeguards against future losses.
Additionally, 5,459 rejected licenses totaled $3.702 billion, with 439 staff owing $1.792 billion without salary deductions. Similar issues noted in 2016 and 2017 remain uncorrected.
In 2023, 43 staff issued freelance invoices and 11 received salaries while on medical leave, breaching rest requirements. The Comptroller ordered probes and will forward the case to the State Defense Council and Public Prosecutor's Office.
The hospital said it is reviewing the report and upholds its transparency commitment. The Northern Metropolitan Health Service noted ongoing administrative measures to bolster license management and resource recovery.
