Medical specialists provided over 300 services during the medical outreach event in María Elena

The event included appointments, tests and procedures across various medical specialties. Equipment was brought in specifically for the event, as part of a project aimed at reducing waitlists and bringing healthcare services to remote communities.

Ten specialists from different regions of the country provided more than 325 medical services at the comprehensive medical care event in María Elena, aimed at reducing gaps in healthcare access in remote areas.

The initiative brought doctors’ appointments and medical procedures to residents who, due to distance and connectivity issues, often have to wait a long time or travel outside the municipality for specialist care.

The event offered appointments with specialists in ophthalmology, orthopedics, gynecology, adult neurology, internal medicine, rheumatology, pediatrics and dermatology. In addition, equipment for tests and procedures was brought in specifically for the campaign, enabling on-site diagnoses and treatment.

Henry Cazenave, an obstetrician-gynecologist who participated in the outreach event, highlighted the impact these campaigns have in remote areas.  “Initiatives like this help bring specialists to communities that typically have limited access to medical care. This time, professionals from different fields participated, significantly expanding the scope of care for patients,” he said.

The medical outreach initiative was launched following a health assessment conducted in Quillagua and María Elena, which identified the primary health needs in both communities.

Viviana Cuello, Mayor of María Elena, explained: “In January, we began in Quillagua by gathering information to understand people’s actual needs, and then continued in María Elena. Based on that, we arranged for the required specialists to visit.”

The medical outreach event is part of the “Comprehensive Medical Care in María Elena and Quillagua” project, a collaboration between the Municipality of María Elena, SQM, and Fundación Acrux, backed by the EMRA (Antofagasta Region Mining Strategy) seal.

Aníbal Abogabir, Communities and Public Affairs Manager at SQM, highlighted the initiative’s social impact. “We aim to make a tangible contribution to people’s wellbeing, especially in areas as sensitive as timely access to healthcare,” he said.

Finally, Roberto Levin, Executive Director of Fundación Acrux, noted: “Our goal at Fundación Acrux is clear: to bring medical specialists to remote areas and, with the equipment we provide, effectively treat patients on waiting lists, thereby improving their quality of life in a concrete and timely manner.”

Beneficiaries

The community responded positively to the services.

Rosalía López emphasized the benefit of seeing specialists without leaving town, stating, “It’s an opportunity we need to take advantage of, because we don’t have these kinds of doctors here.”

Sergio Núñez noted that the medical outreach event facilitated access to doctor’s appointments and test result readings.

Cheila Barraza also commended on the initiative, especially its pediatric care, calling it “a huge help to families, especially those who can’t afford to travel for medical care.”

The project has a second phase planned for June 12 and 13, which will introduce new services to further improve access to specialist care within the community.