Building Healthcare Systems

Global access to healthcare remains one of the most critical challenges facing society today, and strengthening networks and resources is essential to identify viable solutions. A functional healthcare system relies on an integrated framework of facilities that vary in the complexity of the medical services they provide. This framework ranges from primary and intermediate care centers to regional hospitals, specialized institutions, and emergency or research centers.

In Peru, childhood cancer is among the diseases with the highest mortality rates. Although 80% of childhood cancer cases are curable when detected early, many children in developing countries face geographical challenges, long distances to specialized centers, and cultural barriers. As a result, they often reach hospitals with the disease at an advanced stage. In Peru, of the 2,144 children who died from cancer in 2020, a significant number were due to treatment abandonment, mainly because of the high costs, as families are often forced to travel to Lima or other major cities to access adequate care.

To address this reality, the Peruvian government introduced the National Cancer Care Plan–Plan Esperanza 2020-2024, which assesses the oncological needs of both children and adults. However, no specific plan is in place to establish a dedicated pediatric oncology network.

Vidawasi Peru is a nonprofit social organization dedicated to promoting, developing, and implementing health and cultural initiatives aimed at decentralizing specialized pediatric healthcare services. The organization is currently building the first Children’s Health Center in Latin America, located in Cusco’s Sacred Valley of the Incas. As part of this effort, the construction of the Pediatric Oncology Hospital aims to decentralize access to specialized cancer treatment for children in southern Peru.

The architectural design introduces an innovative zoning system that separates diagnostic and treatment areas—such as emergency care, surgical centers, diagnostic imaging, radiotherapy, and inpatient hospitalization—from outpatient services, including consultations, chemotherapy, and rehabilitation.

Pediatric oncology treatments often require extended stays and frequent medical visits, making additional services like schools and accommodation essential. The design concept incorporates a layout of modular spaces that integrate open, semi-open, and closed areas, creating outdoor patios suitable for recreational activities.

This approach fosters a playful environment that encourages the emotional development of the patients, with therapeutic spaces that strengthen the bond between the children and their families through shared, healing experiences. The project emphasizes free-flowing circulation and diverse spaces, including gardens, recreation areas, sports fields, play zones, and a yoga area to achieve this. Central to the design is a strong connection with nature, with landscaped areas serving as a strategy to promote well-being. The site's natural topography has enabled the creation of terraces, providing spaces that foster interaction between doctors and patients.

From a functional perspective, the design includes hospitalization rooms with adjoining spaces for parents, reflecting a care model centered around the entire family, not just the child. Additionally, offices without traditional desks are proposed to create a more welcoming atmosphere where patients feel at ease when expressing their symptoms.

Architecture has the power to support and enhance society, especially in healthcare, where the most vulnerable populations are served. As architects, we are responsible for designing high-quality spaces that prioritize patient well-being and support their recovery journey. With the implementation of this project, supported by the Vidawasi Peru Association, the aim is to set a benchmark for future hospital architecture—one that is more human-centered and thoughtfully designed for children and their families.

www.vidawasiperu.org

Main image: Panoramic view, Pediatric Oncology Hospital, Vidawasi Peru, Cusco, 2024, Cinthia Diaz. Image © Cinthia Diaz