Resignation Requested
On Saturday, July 25, 2026, the Chilean Ministry of Health (Minsal) made a public announcement via a press release and on its official Twitter account, stating that it had formally requested the resignation of Fabián Barrientos Andrade, the regional health secretary (Secretario Regional Ministerial de Salud) for the Magallanes region. The request came after the ministry was informed of an ongoing judicial investigation being conducted by the Public Prosecutor's Office. The statement emphasized that the resignation is intended to protect the institution's proper functioning and ensure the investigation proceeds independently.[S1][S2][S3][S4][S5][S6]
According to the ministry's statement, the primary objective of the resignation request is to safeguard the proper functioning of the health secretariat and to guarantee that the investigation is carried out with total independence and transparency. The Minsal reiterated its unwavering commitment to probity and assured full cooperation with the competent authorities involved in the investigation. Additionally, the ministry noted that a replacement for Barrientos will be appointed and announced in due course, though no specific timeline was given.[S1][S2][S3][S4][S5][S6]
The Minsal did not provide any detailed information about the nature of the judicial investigation that led to the resignation request. No specifics regarding the allegations, the stage of the proceedings, or the likely duration of the inquiry were released to the public. The ministry limited its public comments to the procedural steps taken to ensure the integrity of the process.[S1][S2][S3][S4][S5][S6]
Broader Government Turnover
The resignation of Barrientos is part of a broader pattern of turnover in regional positions since President José Antonio Kast assumed office four and a half months ago. According to reports from multiple sources, 25 regional ministerial secretaries have left their posts during this period, encompassing resignations, removals, and appointments that never materialized.[S1][S2]
In recent weeks, the government has faced additional departures of regional authorities amid ongoing judicial investigations, administrative questions, and political resignations. This pattern reflects a high rotation rate in regional ministerial secretariats during the early months of the Kast administration, as documented in the coverage of this latest resignation.[S1]
