Chile's Health Minister Ximena Aguilera interrupted her vacation to deny any privilege in her mother's hip surgery at Hospital del Salvador on December 23. Opposition lawmakers demand her resignation over alleged irregularities, while the hospital insists protocols were followed. A patient whose procedure was postponed died days later, fueling debate on equity in public healthcare.
On December 23, 2025, Lucía Sanhueza Vargas, 87, mother of Health Minister Ximena Aguilera, fractured her hip in a fall and arrived at Hospital del Salvador around 11:00 a.m. The patient, with advanced dementia, underwent surgery roughly 10 hours later in a 'fast track' procedure that skipped routine administrative steps. Aguilera, who was inaugurating a hospital in San Antonio that day, arrived at the Santiago facility around 3:00 p.m. and denied requesting special treatment.
On January 2, 2026, the minister addressed the press to 'categorically rule out' any privilege, stressing decisions were based on clinical criteria due to her age and condition. 'A fall with a hip fracture is a serious issue in an elderly person,' she explained, refusing to resign despite opposition pressure. She expressed regret over the death of a laparostomized patient whose surgical re-exploration was postponed that day; he died three days later from septic shock, though the hospital clarified he was in intensive care and his procedure was scheduled, not emergent.
Hospital del Salvador defended that 'all clinical decisions were based solely on technical criteria,' launched an audit, and responded to a Comptroller's request. However, opposition lawmakers like Marlene Pérez (UDI) questioned: 'It is legitimate to ask if it is responsible for those with private payment capacity to use slots meant for those with no alternative.' Andrés Celis (RN) called for an influence-peddling probe, stating the minister's 'statements contradict documents.' Lawyer Raimundo Palamara filed a lawsuit against Aguilera and President Gabriel Boric for failure to report.
From the ruling coalition, Juan Luis Castro (PS) appreciated the explanation but criticized the delay: 'This could have been done from the beginning.' The Medical College (Colmed) demanded an 'impartial investigation' to clarify prioritization and safeguard equity. La Moneda supports Aguilera, though the case undermines trust in a healthcare system strained by waiting lists.
