Tuberculosis in Chile. ¿Is its elimination possible?

Abstract

The evolution and the present situation of tuberculosis in Chile are described. On this basis, the feasibility of changing from the current “control” program to an “elimination” program, which is now a Ministry of Health objective, is discussed. One of the relevant circumstances considered is the recent configuration, by the Panamerican Health Organization, of a special group of “low prevalence countries”, comprising Cuba, Costa Rica, Uruguay and Chile, which has been entrusted with the task of defining the intermediate targets to be reached on the way to the goal of elimination. As regards the future perspectives an analysis is made of the obstacles faced so far in Chile and in other countries. The last section deals with the possible effects of the current Health Reform on the future evolution of tuberculosis in the country.