Fundación María, created by Mrs. Mary de Flores, wife of the former president of Honduras, Engineer Carlos Roberto Flores, is a private non-profit institution.
The Maria Foundation fully financed the Hospital Maria, Pediatric Specialties (HMEP), whose construction took place between October 2000 and May 2004, at an initial cost of US$23 million, including land and building.
In November 2004, the Fundación Amigos del Hospital María (FAHM) was established; its legal status was granted by Resolution No. 541-2005 dated February 25, 2005.

Maria Foundation

Fundación María, created by Mrs. Mary de Flores, wife of the former president of Honduras, Engineer Carlos Roberto Flores, is a private non-profit institution. Its founder, after two decades of volunteering in public hospitals and cultural activities, used her influence to provide a healthy start in life to the most vulnerable populations, particularly children. Their dedication is a beacon of hope for the benefit of those who need it most.

In April 1998, Mrs. Flores joined with prominent citizens to create the Maria Foundation, with the commitment to strengthen family values and improve social programs for the welfare of all Honduran society.

Hospital María, Especialidades Pediátricas (HMEP)

The María Foundation fully financed the Hospital María, Especialides Pediátricas (HMEP), whose construction took place between October 2000 and May 2004, with an initial cost of US$23 million, including land and building. This hospital is a national reference in pediatric care, designed to care for children with congenital, critical and highly complex diseases.

The hospital focuses on the comprehensive health of children, especially those with congenital, critical and complex diseases. It strives to keep families together during the children’s stay, with beds that include a couch so family members can get proper rest. Parental involvement in treatment accelerates children’s recovery. The hospital pavilions also have spaces for rest and family gatherings, following a philosophy that combines maternal care with modern medicine.

Fundación Amigos del Hospital María

In January 2002, the María Foundation donated the hospital center to the Government of the Republic with specific conditions. Paragraph 4 of the Deed of Donation establishes that the Hospital Maria, Pediatric Specialties must have an administration independent from the current hospital health network and have a non-governmental Supervisory Commission to guarantee the quality of the administrative management of the hospital’s personnel.

In order to comply with this condition, the Fundación Amigos del Hospital María (FAHM) was established in November 2004, with legal status granted by Resolution No. 541-2005 dated February 25, 2005.

On October 20, 2005, through Decree No. 268-2005, the Administration and Management Agreement of the Hospital María, Pediatric Specialties (HMEP) was approved for the Fundación Amigos del Hospital María (FAHM). The FAHM aims to manage and administer the HMEP’s services in an integrated manner, thus contributing to a more efficient, effective, transparent and agile management of procedures.

First opening stage

With the support of the Government of the Republic, the first agreement was signed on September 10, 2014, thus beginning a long-awaited dream.

The first medical consultation was carried out on October 1, 2014, in the Cardiology Unit and later the services of: Neurology, Immunology and Allergy, Endocrinology and Dermatology were incorporated.

The first medical consultation was carried out on October 1, 2014, in the Cardiology Unit and later the services of: Neurology, Immunology and Allergy, Endocrinology and Dermatology were incorporated. Likewise, Support Services are offered that include Nutrition, Psychology, Social Work, Clinical Laboratory, Radiodiagnosis, Pharmacy, Neurophysiology and an Interhospital Transport Unit with fully equipped ambulances.

Second opening stage

  • The second stage was signed on May 19, 2015, opening the specialties of Gastroenterology, Nephrology, Reconstructive Plastic Surgery, and Ambulatory Pediatric Surgery. Anesthesiology is also opening to be able to perform surgeries.
  • 6 of the 8 operating rooms, 36 of the 130 hospital beds, and 4 of the 12 available in intensive care are enabled.
  • In November 2015, the doors opened to the first international brigade, with Operation Smile. In December of this same year, the first Cardiac Catheterization brigade was carried out.
  • In order to increase the range of medical care required by our patients, we begin to care for children in the following sub-specialties:
Cardiac surgery program

Created to reduce surgical delays in children who require surgery for congenital heart problems. A high percentage of these patients require these interventions to survive, and subsequently return to their normal lives after their surgery.

Kidney Transplant Program:

Together with the team of Surgeons at the Hospital Escuela, it seeks to change the lives of patients who depend on a machine that performs the function of the sick kidney, through replacement techniques such as Hemodialysis and Peritoneal Dialysis. When transplanted, these children can return to a normal life thanks to the comprehensive post-operative management that Hospital María provides to each child, to avoid rejection of the transplanted organ.

Functional Brain Tumor Unit:

An area designed to care for patients with brain tumors in a functional and multidisciplinary manner that addresses the problem of children with brain tumors in a comprehensive manner.

Third opening stage

In the year 2024, the Ministry of Health (SESAL) made a momentous decision to inject funds to enable the third stage of care at the Hospital Maria, Pediatric Specialties (HMEP). This stage represents a significant advance in the provision of specialized medical services, contributing to the well-being and health of the community.

One of the most outstanding milestones of this stage was the opening of the Otorhinolaryngology service, becoming the twelfth specialty of HMEP. This new service makes it possible to treat a wide range of conditions related to the ear, nose and throat, thus improving the quality of life of patients and providing comprehensive and specialized medical care.

In addition, the Pediatric Dentistry support service, a crucial addition that attends to the dental needs of children, was enabled. This service focuses on the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of oral diseases in children, promoting healthy habits and ensuring proper oral health from an early age.

Another significant advance during this third stage was the implementation of the fourth cardiovascular surgery week. This initiative has made it possible to perform highly complex surgical interventions, saving lives and improving the health conditions of numerous patients with heart disease. The dedication and effort of the specialized medical team have been fundamental to the success of these surgeries, marking a milestone in the history of HMEP.

In the following years we have increased our production capacity. In 2016, 1 operating room and 1 additional hemodynamics room were enabled, as well as the opening of support services such as Respiratory Therapy and Physiotherapy. In 2017, 2 intensive care beds were enabled.

The history of Hospital María, Especialidades Pediátricas continues to be written, waiting to move on to a third stage.