Albina R. de Patiño Pediatric Center

Founded in 1967 in Cochabamba, the Albina R. de Patiño Pediatric Center is more than just a healthcare facility: it is a cornerstone of public health, and a space for innovation and commitment to vulnerable children. Run by the Patiño Foundation, it reflects a humanistic and ambitious vision: to give every child a healthier future through rigorous medicine, active prevention and holistic care.

A historic commitment to the most vulnerable

Created in February 1967 by the Simón I. Patiño Foundation, the Albina R. de Patiño Pediatric Center (CPAP) is located in Cochabamba, in the heart of Bolivia. From the outset, it was designed to provide quality healthcare to children, in a country where health inequalities disproportionately affect the youngest. By combining curative care, prevention, training, and research, CPAP embodies the Foundation’s lasting commitment to improving child health.

A unique pediatric hospital in Bolivia

The Albina R. de Patiño Pediatric Center is currently the only private hospital in Bolivia fully specialized in pediatrics. This unique positioning allows it to focus all its human and technical resources on the specific needs of children, in an environment designed for their care.

Thanks to this exclusive specialization, CPAP has developed high-level expertise in treating childhood illnesses, particularly those linked to malnutrition, which remains widespread in Bolivia. The hospital provides comprehensive and continuous care that integrates the medical, educational, and social dimensions of health.

A center structured around four core missions

Specialized curative care

Treating pediatric illnesses is at the heart of the center’s mission. The focus is on the most common conditions among children living in precarious environments, where access to balanced nutrition, safe water, or regular medical follow-up is often limited.

Prevention and health promotion

Beyond medical care, CPAP adopts a preventive approach. Educational programs are run to raise awareness among families about best practices in child health: hygiene, nutrition, vaccination, and growth monitoring. These actions aim to build lasting habits by actively involving parents and communities.

Training of health professionals

The center plays a key role in the Bolivian healthcare system through hands-on training of future professionals. Medical students, nurses, pediatricians—many of them receive training at CPAP in a demanding environment, in close contact with real-life healthcare realities. This transmission of knowledge helps strengthen local capacity.

Medical research

Research is another major component of the center’s work. Studies are regularly conducted to evolve pediatric practices, improve the quality of care, and share results with national health institutions. This research dynamic allows CPAP to actively contribute to the development of Bolivia’s healthcare system.

A reach that extends beyond the center’s walls

Although located in Cochabamba, CPAP’s impact is national. It works in synergy with two other institutions created by the Patiño Foundation:

• The Albina R. de Patiño Health Promotion and Prevention Center, also in Cochabamba
• The Albina R. de Patiño Child Nutrition Center, located in El Alto, La Paz.

This coordination between centers ensures continuity in children’s health journeys: from prevention to nutrition to medical care. Together, they form a coherent network focused on improving child health nationwide.

A vision of excellence upheld by the Foundation

The Albina R. de Patiño Pediatric Center stands out for the quality of its infrastructure and the expertise of its medical team. Healthcare professionals are specifically trained to respond to children’s needs in an environment designed to foster trust and safety. CPAP’s approach—curative, educational, and scientific—makes it a model of excellence aligned with international standards and true to the Foundation’s mission.