Ministry of Health establishes new order of substitution in the South Metropolitan Health Service

The Ministry of Health, through the Undersecretariat of Healthcare Networks, terminated and established a new order of substitution for the position of director of the Metropolitan South Health Service, according to exempt decree No. 61, dated August 10, 2026, published in the Official Gazette of the Republic of Chile No. 44,536, on Friday, August 28, 2026, in Section I of General Norms (CVE 2858716).

The provision, signed by order of the President of the Republic by the Minister of Health, May Chomalí Garib, nullifies the order of substitution in effect since August 3, 2026, and repeals exempt decree No. 58, dated August 4, 2026, which had established it.

Regulatory Framework

The measure is issued in exercise of the powers conferred by the decree with the force of law No. 1/19,653, of 2000, which established the consolidated text of Law No. 18,575, Constitutional Organic Law on General Bases of State Administration, and by article 81, letter a) of the decree with the force of law No. 29, of 2004, regarding the Administrative Statute.

Article fifty-nine of Law No. 19,882 enables the authority empowered to appoint the senior heads of services subject to the Senior Public Management System to determine their own order of substitution. The instruction was issued by the Undersecretary of Healthcare Networks, Julio Montt Vidal.

New Order of Substitution

As of August 3, 2026, in the event of the absence or impediment of the incumbent, the position of director of the Metropolitan South Health Service shall be substituted in the following order:

• First order: director of Barros Luco Hospital.
• Second order: director of Primary Health Care.
• Third order: director of Lucio Córdova Hospital.
• Fourth order: administrative deputy director of Barros Luco Hospital.

Conditions and Effects

The order of substitution may only be assumed if said positions are held by permanent staff of the second hierarchical level of the institution’s plant, appointed through the Senior Public Management System. The acting director shall assume their functions, should it be necessary for reasons of good service, as of the indicated date, without waiting for the full processing of the decree.

The regulation nullifies, as of the same date, exempt decree No. 17, dated April 23, 2025, which governed the previous order of substitution. The text was noted, registered, and published, and its transcription was signed by the head of the Legal Division of the Ministry of Health, Yanara Bravo Montenegro.

The reorganization of the chain of substitution is relevant to guarantee the continuity of healthcare management in the southern area of the capital, one of the territories with the highest healthcare demand in the country, ensuring that the management of the service always remains in the hands of duly appointed senior public management personnel.

Source: Official Gazette of the Republic of Chile, No. 44,536, Friday, August 28, 2026, Section I General Norms, p. 1-2 (official reference: CVE 2858716).