• Hospital had not been operating at full capacity because of funding problems
• Chavez administration had been aiding hospital since it fell behind on obligations
• Move spurs fears that Venezuela could expropriate private health clinics

President Hugo Chavez ordered the expropriation of a hospital managed by Venezuela's Anti-Cancer Association on Monday, saying the nonprofit organization failed to meet its obligations to the public.

During his radio program "Hello President," Chavez said "the time has come to take control" of the Padre Machado Oncology Hospital, which is located in the capital of Caracas and has not been operating at full capacity for months because of funding conflicts.

Chavez's administration has provided the hospital with financial support and medical equipment since the Anti-Cancer Association began falling behind on salary payments and other obligations.

Since his re-election in December, Chavez has moved to nationalize companies involved in strategic industries such as telecommunications and electricity, spurring fears that his left-leaning government could eventually move to nationalize privately owned health clinics.

Although government officials say there are no plans to seize control of private health clinics, the planned expropriation of the Padre Machado Oncology Hospital appeared to be part of a broader trend of gradually expanding Venezuela's network of state-run hospitals and health care programs.