The university authority met with the Minister of Social Development, Javiera Toro. After the meeting, the Undersecretary of Higher Education, Víctor Orellana, stated that “from the Ministry of Education we also proposed to the Minister how much of a priority it is for the region and for the universities of the State and for us to be able to advance quickly in the career of Medicine from the University of La Serena”.

This Monday, April 22, the Rector of the University of La Serena, Dr. Luperfina Rojas, met with the Minister of Social Development, Javiera Toro, to present the details of the opening of the Medicine degree and its respective development plan. studies. Likewise, she requested the support of the central government to achieve the technical recommendation of the project for the construction of the building that will house the future School of Medicine, which was already presented to the GORE of Coquimbo in the month of January.

This is a regional desire that is projected to be realized in Admission 2025, and for which financial support is required to lay the pillars of the building that will house the future Faculty of Health Sciences and this School that will allow doctors to be trained in La Serena by a State university.

Three new hospitals are planned in the area: in La Serena, in Coquimbo and in Illapel. And to carry out this long-term project, the support of the Regional Government is essential, as has happened in state universities in other regions such as Magallanes, Arica and Parinacota, Biobío and Atacama.

In the meeting with Minister Toro, the Rector was accompanied by the Undersecretary of Higher Education, Víctor Orellana, who has provided support for this project that is so relevant for the region and the country. Likewise, the Minister of Education, Nicolás Cataldo, has also given his support. The President of the Board of Directors of the ULS, Ernesto Velasco, was also present.

Rector Rojas emphasized that “regardless of whether the University has the infrastructure and human resources to open the degree in 2025, it is undeniable that due to the size of the project, as in other areas, the support of regional funds is required to build the most appropriate infrastructure.” specific that is needed for the most advanced courses.” And she explained that “we have the third floor of the Nursing and Psychology building already ready with rooms and everything necessary to start classes, we have laboratories and doctors who will be the academics of this School. "For this reason, we require that the State join this large-scale project that has a greater social impact in our region."

For his part, Undersecretary Orellana stated that “from the Ministry of Education we also told the minister how much of a priority it is for the region and for the universities of the State and for us to be able to advance quickly in the Medicine degree at the University of La Serene. It is a university of excellence, complex, that researches, that is linked to the environment and above all it is a public university. It has the mandate to confront a deficit in medical specialties that we have at the national level and also at the local level. And when the State creates a capacity of this nature in the territories, it is a strategic asset. The State remains there.”

Orellana added that “this is a public project that is rooted in the region and, therefore, here we have obtained from the minister all our commitment to move forward as quickly as possible in this support for public investment in this new building.” . Of course, a technical review process has to be carried out, but we have received a very good response from the minister and I understand that the teams are already working on this matter to carry out the project and resolve all the doubts and details that exist. to resolve to move forward.”

For his part, the President of the Board of Directors explained that "there is already an agreement with the Municipality of La Serena for the Cesfan to be clinical fields at the beginning of this project and also the conversation with the Health Service so that they can deliver it on loan. to the University the building of the old La Serena Hospital to install the future Clinical Hospital there that is part of the public health network.”

“We are convinced that our region requires, in the face of the crisis of lack of doctors, to have a School of Medicine within the only State University, and we have the capacity and prestige to do so. The Medicine degree project already has the approval of the highest collegiate bodies, and we hope to be able to dictate it starting in 2025. However, in order for it to be realized, we necessarily require financial support from the Regional and Central Government. For this reason, we have been carrying out efforts and adding support to be able to fulfill this regional dream, of training doctors with high social commitment in our territory,” emphasized the Rector.

The University of La Serena already has careers in the health area that have had a great social impact, such as Nursing, which is more than 40 years old, and Dentistry, which with its clinic serves more than 50 people from vulnerable sectors. annually. This is part of the social role that State universities have in their territories.

For the next few years, a deficit of more than 4 general practitioners and specialists is projected in the Coquimbo Region, so having a School of Medicine at the University of La Serena is strategic for the area and for the country.