Vithas Xanit celebrates its 20th anniversary as a healthcare benchmark in Benalmádena, Málaga province

The Vithas Xanit International Hospital celebrated its 20th anniversary with an institutional event in Benalmádena that brought together more than 250 representatives from public and private institutions, professional colleges, universities, business associations, and social entities. The event, held in the hospital's auditorium, was chaired by the Mayor of Benalmádena, Juan Antonio Lara, and also featured the presence of the Mayors of Torremolinos, Margarita del Cid, and Fuengirola, Ana Mula, representatives from the University of Málaga, the Health Council, healthcare professional colleges, insurance companies, and members of the business and tourism sectors from Málaga and Andalusia. From Vithas, attendees included its chairman, Jorge Gallardo; the group's CEO, Dr. Pedro Rico; the regional director of Vithas in Andalusia, José María Baena, and the managing director of Vithas Xanit International Hospital, José Antonio Ródenas, along with corporate executives and heads of the group's Andalusian hospitals. During the event, the hospital's evolution over these two decades was highlighted. In this time, the center has registered more than one million emergency visits, surpassed three million consultations, conducted over 250,000 surgical interventions, and performed more than one million diagnostic tests. Currently, it employs over 1,000 professionals and offers a wide range of services. Jorge Gallardo, the chairman of Vithas, reflected on the significance of incorporating Xanit International into the group in 2014 and emphasized the hospital’s “solid care culture.” He also highlighted the company's model, with a single family-origin shareholder and a long-term vision, which, he noted, allows patient-centered decision-making. Vithas CEO, Pedro Rico, linked the hospital's trajectory to the efforts of its professionals and the role played by Mercedes Mengíbar, a key figure in the center's history. Rico also noted that Vithas Xanit is part of a network of 22 hospitals and 40 medical and care centers spread across 14 provinces. The hospital's managing director, José Antonio Ródenas, focused on the human value that supports the center's daily activities. "What truly matters are the people who support the hospital every day and the patients who entrust us with their most valuable asset: their health," he stated during his speech. One of the main moments of the event was the in memoriam tribute to Mercedes Mengíbar, who served as the hospital's managing director for ten years and as the regional director for Vithas Andalucía. In recognition of her trajectory and contribution to the development of the center, the hospital's auditorium has been officially renamed Mercedes Mengíbar. The chairman of Vithas presented a commemorative plaque to her daughters, Gabriela and Lara García Mengíbar. José María Baena, the regional director of Vithas in Andalusia, highlighted Mengíbar's role in the early days of the hospital and her commitment to structuring the center around a quality system certified by the Joint Commission International (JCI). Vithas Xanit International Hospital celebrates 20 years endorsed by the JCI accreditation, one of the most demanding international standards in patient quality and safety. Additionally, it ranks in the Top 20 of the national ranking of private hospitals by the Health Reputation Monitor (Merco Salud). The complex also holds the seal from the Andalusian Agency for Healthcare Quality (ACSA), has been recognized in the Best Spanish Hospitals Awards, and has been included in the ranking of the World’s Best Hospitals 2026, among other accolades.