Madrid's first pediatric palliative care center to open in early 2027

Madrid will open its first pediatric palliative care center in the first quarter of 2027 in the San Blas-Canillejas district. The center, funded entirely by the Fundación Amancio Ortega and managed by the Fundación porqueViven, aims to provide comprehensive care for children with life-limiting illnesses and support for their families.

What the center offers

The facility sits on a 15,000-square-meter plot, which includes a 5,000-square-meter garden. It will serve up to 1,400 users aged 0–18 years, with 100 professionals and 400 volunteers. The center features a day center, respite rooms for families, and a classroom for children who are not bedridden. A key innovation is the "despedida" (farewell) rooms, designed to provide a dignified space for end-of-life care. Source: ABC.es Source: Infobae

User profile and philosophy

Most children will have rare diseases, neurodegenerative conditions, or cancer. The center's director, Mónica Cantón de Celis, emphasized that the environment is intentionally non-clinical: "todo está disfrazado y encubierto" to create a homelike atmosphere. Source: ABC.es The goal is to offer respite to caregivers—93% of whom are women—allowing them to take breaks or focus on other children. Source: Infobae

Access and timeline

The center will open progressively, at 25% capacity per quarter, to allow for team training. Referrals will be assessed case by case. Source: Infobae The land has been ceded by the Madrid City Council for 75 years, and Mayor José Luis Martínez-Almeida described the project as "the most noble and dignified purpose" for the plot. Source: ABC.es