The Contraloría General de la República (CGR) detected serious construction anomalies at the Hospital Las Higueras in the Bío Bío Region, including the proliferation of mold, persistent dampness odors, and substandard exterior finishes, according to an official investigation report.
Investigation Findings at Hospital Las Higueras
These affected surfaces make up the interior and perimeter partitioning located between the basement and the fourth floor of the hospitalization building, as detailed in Informe Final de Investigación Especial N°438 de 2026.
Investigators also discovered issues outside the facility. On the external facades of the buildings, workers installed porcelain tiles of a lower quality than the specifications approved by the contract’s technical inspection. These tiles fail to meet the required strength and specifications in their reinforcing mesh, which creates a potential risk of the elements falling if they break.
Did You Know? The ongoing construction work spans multiple levels of the hospitalization building, specifically reaching from the basement up to the fourth floor where the drywall issues were identified.
Ignored Warnings and Ineffective Cleaning Treatments
Before the CGR report was finalized, the construction’s technical inspector had already instructed crews to remove the damaged drywall panels and halt ongoing activities. Despite these initial warnings, cleaning treatments were subsequently carried out and approved directly by the Director of the Talcahuano Health Service without factoring in the earlier cautions.
According to the regulatory findings, those cleaning efforts ultimately failed to yield the expected results. The persistent presence of moisture and fungal growth led the CGR to issue formal corrective demands to address the construction flaws.
Corrective Actions and Required Remediations
Following the release of the special investigation report, the CGR formally requested that the Talcahuano Health Service mandate the construction company to replace every drywall panel impacted by moisture and fungal proliferation. Furthermore, the Hospital Las Higueras must promptly approve a technical equivalent and execute the replacement of all exterior porcelain tiles that fail to satisfy the established project criteria.
Frequently Asked Questions
What specific construction defects were found at Hospital Las Higueras?
Investigators found the proliferation of fungi, surface stains, and moisture odors on drywall partitioning between the basement and the fourth floor, alongside exterior porcelain tiles that failed to meet approved quality and mesh-resistance standards.
Which government entity conducted the inspection?
What steps did regulators demand from local health authorities?
The CGR requested that the Talcahuano Health Service require the construction firm to replace all moisture-damaged drywall panels and swap out the non-compliant exterior porcelain tiles with approved materials.
What measures should public authorities implement to ensure construction contractors strictly adhere to approved material specifications during hospital expansions?
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