Recent trends in health and health care in Chile: 1989-2005

Abstract

This paper is a new version of a former one which covered the period 1989-2001. Values of health and health care indicators in Chile, for the period starting in 1989, are presented.. Both resources and activities of the public health care system show remarkable increases, nevertheless, in the last three years, this trends had reached a ceiling. Some important activities attain per capita levels that are similar to those of the privately insured population. Health status indicators have continued to improve , so that Chile occupies a relatively high position in this respect among the countries of the Americas. It is proposed that the data presented here, as well as the other health statistics published in the country, are consistent with the assertion that the public health system, which takes care of most of the population, and particularly of those in greater need, is both effective and efficient. Examples are provided of positive associations between public health interventions and control of health conditions. Nevertheless, Chilean society should still achieve further reductions in premature mortality, in morbidity, disability and risk factors prevalence; also, better human development and quality of life. The reduction of inequity in health and health care is an important national target.