Chile

Population:

  • 19,085,170 (current as of 2020) [1]

  • Infant mortality rate - 5.9 per 1,000 live births (2020) [1]

Economy:

  • Export-driven economy (42nd largest in the world), with copper being the primary export. [2]

  • Categorized as a upper-middle income country, but significant inequalities have led to severe stratification between regions and social groups. [3]

Politics:

  • Military dictatorship under Pinochet (1973-1990) left country with stark inequality, lack of social services, and widespread discontent. [4]

  • Despite transitioning to democracy, tepid attempts at reform have led to severe inequality and the recent protests. [4]

Sources:

  1. Worldometer, based on 2020 elaborations of United Nations (UN) data

  2. Observatory of Economic Complexity (OEC), “Chile”

  3. Bulletin of the World Health Organization (WHO), “The Chilean infant mortality decline: improvement for whom? Socioeconomic and geographic inequalities in infant mortality, 1990–2005” (2007)

  4. Foreign Policy, “From Model to Muddle: Chile’s Sad Slide Into Upheaval” (2019)

HEALTHCARE

Guaranteed to all regardless of ability to pay under 2006 law [1]:

  • 70% of the population rely on the public system [1]

  • 17.5% rely on private system [1]

  • 13.5% rely on public institutions (e.g. the military) and nonprofit assistance [1]

  • 69 conditions required for free coverage by any system [1]

Despite universal guarantees, severe inequalities persist [1]

  • Rich Chileans as main consumers of healthcare, poor Chileans are more likely to avoid it due to out-of-pocket costs and work status. [1]

Source for all stats:

  1. International Journal for Equity in Health, “Equity in health care utilization in Chile” (2013)

 ONGOING ISSUES

  • Income inequality [1]

  • Unequal access to health care [1]

  • Geographic disparities in services [2]

  • Malnutrition [2]

  • Trauma [3]

  • Respiratory distress [3]

Sources:

  1. United Nations Development Program (UNDP), Assessment of Development Results (2017)

  2. Food and Nutrition Bulletin, “Comparative Public Health: Costa Rica, Cuba, and Chile” (1987)

  3. Bulletin of the World Health Organization (WHO), “The Chilean infant mortality decline: improvement for whom? Socioeconomic and geographic inequalities in infant mortality, 1990–2005” (2007)

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OBSERVED SOLUTIONS

National health campaigns [1]:

  • Special focus on early childhood development programs. [1]

Community-based public health outreach, with special focus on [2]:

  • Antenatal care (nutritional supplements; counseling on breastfeeding and childcare)

  • Neonatal care (training on resuscitation, prevention of hypothermia, and other conditions).

  • Postnatal care (community programs to advocate for early/exclusive breastfeeding and symptom recognition/care-seeking; infection management, trauma prevention; basic care provided by trained workers).

Sources:

  1. World Bank, “10 Years of Chile Grows With You (Chile Crece Contigo) : Key Components and Lessons Learned for the Setting Up of Comprehensive Child Development Support Systems” (2018)

  2. Bulletin of the World Health Organization (WHO), “The Chilean infant mortality decline: improvement for whom? Socioeconomic and geographic inequalities in infant mortality, 1990–2005” (2007) 

 KEY QUESTIONS FOR FURTHER INVESTIGATION

How can Chile address structural socioeconomic inequalities that have led to negative health outcomes (e.g. eliminate out-of-pocket costs that prevent poor Chileans from seeking care)?

How can health programs be extended to people in underserved neighborhoods/regions?

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