Chivo Pets, El Salvador’s government-run veterinary hospital, resumed operations this Monday following an order from President Nayib Bukele. The hospital, which had been temporarily closed on Saturday, is now set to strengthen multiple critical areas of its services.
Melvyn Rogel, the director of Chivo Pets, emphasized the institution’s commitment to improving essential medical services. “All areas of the hospital will be strengthened, especially those that are most critical in patient care, such as emergency, laboratory, surgery, and general consultations,” Rogel stated during a press conference on Monday.
One of the key improvements will be in the hospital’s pharmacy, ensuring that pet owners have access to necessary medications. “Since the pharmacy is a critical area in the hospital, we will be reinforcing it so that all pet owners can obtain the medicines needed for their pets’ treatments,” Rogel explained.
Rogel also expressed his personal satisfaction in reopening the hospital, calling it a “pride and honor” to resume operations. He expects patient flow to increase again, noting that in 2024, Chivo Pets provided over 1.7 million veterinary services.
President Bukele had initially ordered the hospital’s closure on Saturday, citing “all the mentions and comments on social media” over the past year, which he said were overwhelmingly negative. He noted that many complaints focused on long waiting times, the quality of care, and allegations that Chivo Pets catered mainly to wealthy pet owners. The decision came just days after the poor conditions of an animal shelter in Ilopango were exposed.
However, following public outcry and widespread support for the hospital’s services, Bukele reversed the decision. “I have instructed Chivo Pets to reopen and increase its budget to ensure an even better service than before, which, according to new comments, is already excellent,” he posted on social media.
According to the Presidential Press Office, Chivo Pets provided 1,000,700 services in 2024 alone. Established in February 2022, the hospital had a $10 million budget allocation for 2025. The government has maintained that its construction was financed through Bitcoin profits, and services remain accessible to the public at a symbolic fee of $0.25, payable in Bitcoin.