Nuestra Señora de La Candelaria University Hospital Marks 60 Years of Service

The Nuestra Señora de La Candelaria University Hospital is celebrating its 60th anniversary, marking six decades as a cornerstone of the Canary Islands' public health system. Since opening its doors on April 1, 1964, as the Social Security Health Residence, the hospital has undergone a significant transformation.

The hospital’s growth mirrors the modernization of healthcare across the islands. What began as a facility with ten departments and 237 beds has expanded into a complex of six buildings, offering 50 specialties and employing over 7,500 professionals. Today, the hospital is a leader in complex medical care, particularly in fields like oncological neurosurgery, palliative care—including home-based services and the Hospital del Sur—and its liver transplant program, which has been running since 1996.

Under the guidance of the Ministry of Health, the hospital remains incredibly busy. In 2025, it handled 750,000 consultations and 450,000 diagnostic tests. To manage rising demand and physical space constraints, the administration is now focusing on a decentralization strategy, strengthening hospitals in the North and South of Tenerife to better balance the workload.

To mark this milestone, the hospital has released a digital project titled 60 Years Being Part of Your Life. This collection of stories and photos highlights the human side of the institution. It features personal accounts from people like Ricardo Peña, the hospital’s first newborn, who later returned to work in its emergency services; Gara Pérez, who was born at the turn of the millennium; and Ana Perdomo, who was part of the hospital’s first nursing class.

This anniversary celebrates not only the hospital’s medical and teaching achievements but also serves as a turning point for Tenerife’s healthcare strategy. As the population grows, the primary goal remains ensuring that the public health model stays sustainable and effective for the future.