The health secretary for Arica and Parinacota resigned from her post following a public hiring controversy, becoming the 31st regional official to leave office nationwide, according to a statement released by the Ministry of Health.
Dr. Karla Kepec, who also serves as the regional president of the Republican Party, lost her job after advertising two medical technologist positions for the Regional Public, Environmental, and Labor Health Laboratory through a party WhatsApp group. Anonymous whistleblowers leaked the recruitment message to Ximena Astudillo, editor of the regional newsletter, exposing a requirement that applicants be party members or connected to the Republican family to access those spots without a public competition.
Did You Know? The disputed job advertisement explicitly instructed interested applicants to submit their CVs to a party-affiliated email address for immediate entry according to an interview.
Political Repercussions and Internal Party Division
The viral Instagram publication triggered immediate political debate across multiple local circles. Liberal Deputy Luis Malla, alongside regional councillors Denisse Morales (PS) and María Victoriano (PC), publicly criticized the arrangement and demanded that the government adhere to its transparency commitments in public administration.
Internal factional friction within the regional party also surfaced following the incident. Kepec aligned with Lista 1, known as “Firmes en la verdad. La Lista del cambio,” which competes for internal board control ahead of upcoming elections scheduled for August 8. Rival faction candidate Alan Céspedes, representing Lista 2 “Unidad Republicana,” condemned the hiring method, stating that using state functions to favor party networks violates public service ethics.
Official Response and Downstream Impact
Following inquiries made earlier in the day regarding the recruitment text, the Ministry of Health assumed formal communications responsibilities. By late afternoon, the central ministry confirmed Kepec’s departure, noting that her exit brings the total number of regional secretarial resignations to four in the region and 31 across the country.
Frequently Asked Questions
What triggered the resignation of the regional health secretary?
Karla Kepec resigned after a leaked WhatsApp message revealed she solicited job applications for two laboratory positions exclusively from Republican Party members or their relatives.
Where was the original job advertisement posted?
The recruitment message was shared inside a WhatsApp group named “Partido Republicano Arica y Parinacota” and subsequently publicized on Instagram.
How many regional secretaries have left office nationwide?
With this departure, the total number of regional secretaries who have left office across the country reached 31.
What measures should regional authorities implement to ensure future public sector hiring strictly follows merit-based competition?
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