MAY 10, 2018

President Piñera chairs first meeting of working group to establish a National Agreement for Healthcare, setting out priority measures

Among the proposals included by the President were the promotion of telemedicine, the creation of a new form of health insurance, and that waiting lists and times will be reduced, along with the cost of medications. Furthermore, he also set out as a priority the modernization of the Isapre private health insurance and Fonasa public health insurance systems.

The President of Chile, Sebastián Piñera, chaired the first meeting of the healthcare working group in La Moneda Palace on Thursday, which included a cross-party representation of congressmen, ministers, undersecretaries, mayors and health experts. 

In the context of the five national agreements announced by the President, healthcare must provide meaning to a more in-depth transformation of the health system.

Following the meeting, the President emphasized that the members of the working group had shown their willingness towards dialogue, agreements and collaboration.

"I also wish to reiterate the importance of dialogue, the search for agreements, collaboration and goodwill and not only in terms of politics, but for the quality of life in our country," said the President.

The mission of the working group is to contribute ideas, enrich proposals and help implement a new healthcare policy in Chile, as well as to work to promote a new model with the strengthening of the Healthcare Assistance Networks Undersecretary’s Office and the modernization of management methods within the healthcare services.

"The people of Chile expect their public authorities to unite so as to resolve their problems, and what better way than to join together to provide more timely healthcare, which is more dignified and of greater quality for all our citizens," said the President.
The President also indicated that telemedicine will be promoted so as to provide a virtual platform for specialist doctors to treat patients, especially those who live in remote areas, along with a new form of health insurance, the reduction of waiting lists and times, and cheaper medicines.

This announcement complements the recent submission to Congress of indications to Drug Law II, the aim of which is to lower the cost of medicines.

He added that it was essential to modernize the system of Isapres (private health insurance) and Fonasa (public health insurance), in order to eliminate cost discrimination against women, the elderly and those who are sick. In Chile, 14 million people are affiliated to Fonasa, while just over 3 million are insured under an Isapre. In the public sector, waiting lists for specialist care stand at around 2 million people.

The working group will meet each Monday and has been given a period of 90 days to deliver a final report with its proposals.