MOP modifies concession of four hospitals in the Los Ríos-Los Lagos Network

The Ministry of Public Works (MOP) modified, for reasons of public interest, the characteristics of the works and services of the public fiscal works concession contract “Los Ríos - Los Lagos Network: Los Lagos Hospital, La Unión Hospital, Río Bueno Hospital, and Puerto Varas Hospital”. The decision was formalized through Supreme Decree MOP No. 175, dated July 6, 2026, published in the Official Gazette No. 44,547 on Thursday, September 10, 2026, Section II (Particular Norms), with the official reference CVE 2866429.

The modification responds to two fronts: an unforeseen archaeological find during the works of the La Unión Hospital, which necessitated a rescue and an Indigenous Consultation process, and the need to expand the surface area of the facilities to approve the final engineering projects. The contract was awarded by Supreme Decree MOP No. 9, dated January 13, 2022, and is governed by the Public Works Concessions Law (DFL MOP No. 900, 1996) and its Regulations.

Archaeological Rescue of the La Unión Hospital

During the preliminary works of the La Unión Hospital, an archaeological find was detected at site HLU-1, which led the Council of National Monuments (CMN) to authorize its characterization and, subsequently, the Archaeological Rescue Proposal (CMN entry No. 5396-2023). The process was expanded following the Indigenous Consultation requested by the Communal Council of Indigenous Organizations and the Daglipulli Territorial Alliance, whose agreements were recorded in the “Administrative Measure Agreement Sheet” dated April 12, 2025.

With the new decree, the Sociedad Concesionaria Región Sur S.A. must comply with the commitments of that agreement sheet, with the exception of points No. 9 and No. 12, and the maximum amount for rescue costs is increased to UF 13,955. Additionally, it is noted that the deadlines for the La Unión Hospital will be counted from the 30 days following December 31, 2025, the date on which the CMN released the land.

Surface Area Increase of Three Hospitals

The decree increases the surface area of the Medical Architectural Program (PMA) for the hospitals of La Unión, Río Bueno, and Puerto Varas, by the following maximum square meters:

• La Unión Hospital: +389.02 m² (final surface area 32,110.64 m²).
• Río Bueno Hospital: +1,617.18 m² (final surface area 37,885.64 m²).
• Puerto Varas Hospital: +3,723.41 m² (final surface area 58,208.81 m²).

For additional construction costs, the MOP will recognize maximum amounts of UF 19,148.27 (La Unión), UF 80,398.94 (Río Bueno), and UF 154,153.30 (Puerto Varas). For the operation and maintenance of the three facilities, a semi-annual recognition of UF 1,148.41, net of VAT, is established, a figure lower than the UF 3,443.79 valued by the concessionaire, a discrepancy that may be resolved through the mechanisms of Articles 36 and 36 bis of the Concessions Law.

Compensation and validity

The compensation modalities will be agreed upon in a convention that the parties must sign within a maximum period of 5 months from the publication of the decree, through the reallocation of works, equipment, or services within the same contract, without the contribution of additional resources. The concessionaire ratified its acceptance via letter SCRS/IF/2185/2026, reserving actions only for damages derived from the Indigenous Consultation and for unrecognized costs. The act was signed by order of the President of the Republic by the Minister of Public Works, Louis de Grange Concha, and the Minister of Finance, and transcribed by the Undersecretary of Public Works, Nicolás Balmaceda Jimeno.

The measure ensures the continuity of a key sanitary infrastructure for two regions, while simultaneously guaranteeing the protection of cultural heritage and compliance with the agreements reached with indigenous communities, in a project that comprises the design, construction, equipment, and operation of four hospital facilities.

Source: Official Gazette of the Republic of Chile, No. 44,547, September 10, 2026, section II (Particular Norms), pág. 1-12 (official reference: CVE 2866429).