Baja California Sur Governor Víctor Manuel Castro Cosío formalized a partnership with Shriners Children’s to provide free specialized medical care to children across the state. The agreement, announced March 27 in La Paz, covers orthopedic conditions, spinal problems, and burn injuries for minors ages 0 to 18.
Shriners Children’s, a nonprofit hospital network headquartered in Tampa, Florida, has already treated 100 BCS children in 2025. The organization operates facilities across North America with advanced technology and specialist medical staff. It has provided free pediatric care since 1945, regardless of a family’s ability to pay or insurance status.
What the Partnership Covers
Under the agreement, the state government will coordinate directly with Shriners Children’s to identify and refer children who need complex specialty care. Castro Cosío directed the state health services director to maintain ongoing communication with the organization to strengthen capacity and reduce response times.
The governor said collaboration with civil organizations expands the reach of public health services, particularly for cases that require treatments not readily available through BCS’s existing public hospital system. Complex orthopedic surgeries and burn treatments often require families in Baja California Sur to seek care from expensive private providers or travel to mainland Mexico.
A Longtime Nonprofit With North American Reach
Shriners Children’s, formerly known as Shriners Hospitals for Children, is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit healthcare system founded in 1922. The network specializes in pediatric orthopedics, burns, spinal cord injuries, and cleft lip and palate care. It operates multiple locations, including a facility in Southern California.
The network’s proximity to Baja California Sur makes the partnership logistically practical for families who might otherwise face long trips to hospitals in Guadalajara or Mexico City for specialty pediatric procedures.
The agreement is part of a broader state strategy to fill gaps in BCS public health infrastructure by partnering with established international nonprofits rather than building new facilities from scratch.
This story was first reported by the Baja California Sur state government press office at bcs.gob.mx.