The Government of El Salvador has inaugurated a new adult and pediatric emergency room at San Juan de Dios National Hospital in Santa Ana. The project, executed with an investment of $7.3 million, aims to improve healthcare services by separating emergency care for children and adults.
Under President Nayib Bukele’s vision that «the public has to be better than the private,» the Ministry of Health (Minsal) and the Rafael Meza Ayau Foundation (FRMA) collaborated to renovate and expand the hospital’s emergency area. The government contributed $6.1 million, while the remaining funds came from the foundation and its partners.
This modernization effort includes state-of-the-art medical equipment, making the new emergency room the most advanced in both the public and private healthcare sectors in the country. Minister of Health Francisco Alabi emphasized that the initiative strengthens emergency response capacity for both adults and children in western El Salvador.
“One of the best emergency facilities in the entire country is being consolidated, both in the public and private sectors. This is achieved thanks to the effort and vision entrusted by President Bukele, who has asked us to do everything possible to safeguard the lives of the population. These facilities are fully equipped with cutting-edge technology,” said Alabi.
The renovation will triple the hospital’s capacity to handle medical emergencies and includes specialized areas for critical care, operating rooms, minor surgery, and ophthalmology—an entirely new service made possible by this project.
Carla Meyer, executive director of FRMA, highlighted the importance of separating pediatric and adult emergency areas, which will enhance care quality for children. “It has been an incredible job. We believe in collective impact, and we have successfully renovated the entire emergency department with two separate areas. This will allow children to recover faster with the best care,” Meyer stated.
Health authorities expect this project to significantly benefit the western population, who rely on emergency medical services daily. This initiative is part of a broader effort by Minsal to enhance the country’s hospital network and improve healthcare infrastructure nationwide.