President José Antonio Kast signed a decree declaring a health alert due to the oncology waiting list emergency, affecting over 27,000 patients. The measure grants extraordinary powers to health authorities to speed up purchases and public-private collaborations. It aims to reduce delays averaging 76.8 to 332 days.
At the end of last week, President José Antonio Kast signed the decree declaring a health alert for the public health emergency linked to delays in oncology care, as reported by La Tercera. The announcement was made from Cesfam José Alvo in La Florida, alongside Health Minister May Chomali. The decree, still under review by Contraloría, grants extraordinary powers to the Subsecretaría de Salud Pública, Subsecretaría de Redes Asistenciales, Servicios de Salud, Fonasa, and Cenabast to strengthen public-private collaboration and expedite purchases of private sector services, staff hiring, and pharmaceutical distribution. Additionally, a National Operational Committee will be created to propose and monitor a plan to resolve non-GES oncology waiting lists and delayed GES guarantees. The Ministry of Health reports 7,716 patients on non-GES lists and 19,613 with GES delays, averaging 76.8 days for GES and up to 322 or 332 days for non-GES. The cancers with most delays are cervical, colorectal, breast, gastric, and prostate, accounting for 82%. Minister Chomali stated the alert provides “greater flexibility to move resources.” Former Health Minister Enrique Paris explained it turns the issue into a “state emergency” to boost resolution capacity and prevent deaths. The measure has been welcomed: Alicia Aravena from the Cancer Observatory noted it reflects “sustained civil society work since 2023,” and Carolina Goic from the National Cancer Forum called it “very good news” for patients awaiting diagnosis or treatment.
