The two earthquakes that hit in 2001 killed 1,260 people, destroyed eight hospitals and destroyed or seriously damaged 113 of the country’s 361 health facilities. The El Salvadoran government took on this project as part of the plan to reactivate all the country’s health services. Due to the destruction wrought by the earthquakes, the country was facing some big challenges in terms of health-service efficacy and coverage, mainly for the poorer households. Only 66% of Salvadoran citizens have access to health services, as two million have no access or only limited access to healthcare. This population was spread over rural areas and the outskirts of urban areas. The situation remains the same today.

In December 2007 the new Hospital Nacional Nuestra Señora de Fátima was opened in Cojutepeque, San Salvador. The hospital was built by FCC Construcción for 10.3 million dollars for the Ministry of Public Health and Social Assistance (MSPAS) of El Salvador.

The hospital’s construction was financed through the Hospital Reconstruction and Health Service Extension (RHESSA) Project, with resources from the World Bank and the government of El Salvador.

The modern new hospital is over 7,758 m2 in area. It benefits over 186,000 inhabitants throughout the department of Cuscatlán and surrounding areas, and it has been built with the goal of improving hospital care, management and capacity.

FCC Construcción has been doing business in El Salvador through M&S since 2006. Its intention is to consolidate its presence in the area and work with public institutions for the country’s development. Involved in the construction of this hospital were 500 company employees and 25 local subcontractors with over 300 employees of their own. Right now the FCC/M&S consortium is engaged in other work to build roads in El Salvador, such as Avenida de Diego de Holguín and the Usulután bypass.