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More than three centuries as the Heart of Pátzcuaro.

A legacy of resilience that began in 1672 and continues stronger than ever in 2026.

Mexico’s third oldest hospital in continuous operation.

The Origin of a Legacy

Our history is divided into two fundamental moments that forged our identity:

1632: The Royal Council of the Indies approves the creation of a healthcare space in the region.
February 15, 1672: The definitive license is issued by Bishop Fray Antonio de Sarmiento y Luna. Under the stewardship of the Hospitaller Order of Saint John of God, construction begins on the walls that still protect us today.

We hold a place of honor in our country’s medical history. As we celebrate 354 years of continuous service, we stand as Mexico’s third longest-standing hospital institution, preceded only by:

Hospital de Jesús (1524) – Mexico City.
Hospital de San Juan de Dios (1606) – Guadalajara.
Hospital General Dr. Gabriel García (1672) – Pátzcuaro.

A Benchmark of Health and Tradition

Our Transformation

18th Century: Sustained through the generosity of figures such as Captain Pedro Antonio de Ibarra and Don Miguel Leyva.
1860: The State Legislature declares the institution a Civil Hospital.
1895: We are renamed in honor of our great benefactor, Dr. Gabriel García Romero.
1936: General Lázaro Cárdenas links the budget of the "Emperador Caltzontzin" Theater to ensure the hospital's operation, marking an era of close institutional collaboration.
Second Half of the 20th Century: The hospital undergoes a process of technical and administrative modernization. During these decades, management began to transition from direct state dependency toward an organization driven by Pátzcuaro's own civil society.
Consolidation of Autonomy: To guarantee the permanence of its humanitarian mission and ensure transparency in its financing, the institution formally constitutes itself as a Civil Association (A.C.). This legal change marked the beginning of our contemporary era: an independent hospital, managed by citizens for citizens.
Present Day (2026): Hospital General Dr. Gabriel García A.C. celebrates 354 years of uninterrupted service. We are an institution that honors its deep historical legacy while operating with the agility, technology, and autonomy that the 21st century demands.

As heirs to a legacy of collective effort that has overcome the challenges of three centuries, today Hospital General Dr. Gabriel García A.C. stands as an independent, non-profit institution. In 2026, we combine the prestige of our history with a modern and autonomous vision, ensuring that the medical heart of Pátzcuaro continues to beat with the same vocation of service with which it was born in 1672.

Medical Science with a Human Soul

History and services

Although its creation was approved by the Royal Council of the Indies in 1632, its official founding date is February 15, 1672, the day Bishop Fray Antonio de Sarmiento y Luna, on behalf of the Hospitaller Order of Saint John of God, issued the license for its final construction. This makes it the third oldest hospital in Mexico, after the Hospital de Jesús in Mexico City and the Hospital de San Juan de Dios in Guadalajara.

From its beginnings, the upkeep of the Pátzcuaro Hospital relied on the generosity of the community, with alms and crucial contributions from figures such as Captain Pedro Antonio de Ibarra, Don Miguel Leyva, and Don Juan Cayetano Portugal. In 1860, the Michoacán State Legislature declared it a Civil Hospital. In 1895, it was renamed in honor of the physician and benefactor Dr. Gabriel García Romero. During the administration of Lázaro Cárdenas (1936–1942), a decree allocated the surplus revenue from the “Emperador Caltzontzin” Theater to the hospital to ensure its continued operation.

Today, the Dr. Gabriel García General Hospital operates as a non-profit civil association and in 2026 celebrated 354 years of continuous service. It serves patients from across the region and from all social strata, solidifying its position as a pillar of medical care and a benchmark of health and tradition in Michoacán.

More than a hospital, we are a tradition of care. At Hospital Gabriel García, we combine the speed of private medicine with fair costs, because your well-being should have no barriers.

Our Organization

Currently, the work team at the Dr. Gabriel García General Hospital is comprised of:

Civil Association
President: J. Arturo Pimentel Martínez
Vice President: Jorge Pita Arroyo
Treasurer: Ana María Bucio Gómez
Secretary: Eduardo Joel Rosas Pérez

Operational and Administrative Area
Managing Director: Dr. Francisco Sosa Juárez
Deputy Director: Dr. Antonio Anaya Guerrero
Administration: María del Socorro Álvarez Tinajero
Administrative Assistant: Mary Jose Manrique P.

Historical Validation Sources

Archives of the Bishopric of Michoacán: Founding and Construction License, issued on February 15, 1672, by Bishop Fray Antonio de Sarmiento y Luna.
Chronicles of the Hospitaller Order of Saint John of God: Records of hospital expansion in New Spain (17th Century), Documents of the Province of the Holy Spirit.
Historical Archive of Pátzcuaro: Colonial Collection and Decrees of the Michoacán State Legislature (1860) regarding the transition to Civil Hospital status.
Official Gazette / State Decrees (1936): Federal Executive decree linking the revenue of the "Emperador Caltzontzin" Theater to the hospital's public welfare funds.
Reference Bibliography: "San Juan de Dios en México" by Francisco de la Maza, along with regional historical research on healthcare infrastructure in Michoacán.

A legacy of health that evolves with modernity

Help us to help

Your support is vital so we can continue offering low-cost consultations and quality services. Help us make a difference: We accept monetary donations through PayPal and in-kind donations (such as equipment or supplies for patients). Every donation allows us to keep our recovery fees low for those who need it most.

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