In a significant step toward improving cancer treatment in eastern El Salvador, the National Integrated Health System, through the Salvadoran Social Security Institute (ISSS), officially inaugurated a new outpatient chemotherapy service at the San Miguel Regional Social Security Hospital this Thursday.
This new facility will offer chemotherapy sessions from Monday to Friday, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., with an estimated 30 sessions performed daily. The project was designed to bring comprehensive cancer care closer to patients in the region, eliminating the need for referrals to the central ISSS Oncology Unit in San Salvador.
“We continue to develop projects that benefit the health of the Salvadoran population,” said Mónica Ayala, Director of the ISSS. “With this initiative, we are providing a timely response to cancer patients, who need prompt service for diagnosis and treatment.”
The newly inaugurated space includes:
- A chemotherapy seating area
- A catheter clinic
- Vein sampling and preparation rooms
- A waiting room
- A cytostatic mixture preparation zone
The infrastructure was fully redesigned and modernized to meet the needs of outpatient cancer patients, and officials confirmed that the services are operating optimally.
“We are providing state-of-the-art equipment because our patients are at the center of our care,” added Ayala. She also indicated that, depending on demand, service hours could be extended to weekends, as has already been implemented in San Salvador.
This development reflects El Salvador’s continued commitment to improving nationwide healthcare services and ensuring timely, localized, and dignified care for all patients facing cancer.