On October 31, 2022, the public consultation called by the Ministry of Health regarding modifications to DS 161/1982, which approves the Regulation on Hospitals and Clinics, and DS 283/1997, which approves the Regulation on Procedure Rooms and Minor Surgery Wards, concluded.

The modifications proposed by the Ministry go hand in hand with the modifications to Decree 58, which approved the technical standards for the sanitary authorization of health care establishments, and seek to harmonize the aforementioned regulations with the technical standards.

In this sense, the proposed amendments to the Regulation on Hospitals and Clinics seek to clarify and expand the powers of the SEREMIs of Health in the authorization of projects for the construction, modification or expansion of hospitals or clinics, in addition to granting them powers for the authorization of their installation and operation.

The amendments to the Regulation on Procedure Rooms and Minor Surgery Wards are along the same lines mentioned above, expanding the powers of the SEREMIs of Health in the authorization of projects for the construction, modification and expansion of procedure rooms and wards, in addition to granting them powers for the authorization of their installation and operation.

Having concluded the public consultation process, it is important to be aware of when these modifications become effective since, according to the proposed modifications, any hospital, clinic, procedure room or pavilion, even if they have an approved design, building permit or are in bidding or execution of works, must request the approval of the project by the SEREMI.

Should you require additional information on this matter, please contact Andrea Abascal (aabascal@jdf.cl), and/or Andrés Sepúlveda (asepulveda@jdf.cl).