Work

Sistema de saúde do Chile: resposta sanitária e desafios frente à COVID-19

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: This study analyzes the Chilean health system response to COVID-19 from 2020 to 2023, highlighting moments (according to their epidemiological and sociopolitical context) and its main measures. It also reflects on the opportunities and limits of the response of this system to the epidemic to reform it. This case study included a literature review, document analysis, and 19 semi-structured interviews with relevant institutional stakeholders. Results indicate that, amidst political instability, national health capacities received investments. The adopted measures highlighted the relevance of the public health system, with centralized management of hospital beds by the Ministry of Health, and integrated health surveillance policies with primary health care (PHC). Maintaining the acquired capacities and recovering the strained health care system constitute challenges after the pandemic, strengthening processes of universalization in the agenda of the health system via universal PHC and by extinguishing co-payments.

Source: Cadernos de Saúde Pública

DOI: 10.1590/0102-311xpt278525

Authors: Isabel Domingos Martinez dos Santos, Suelen Carlos de Oliveira, Alex Alarcón Hein

Institutions: Universidade Federal Fluminense, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, University of Chile

Language: Portuguese

Topic: Healthcare Systems and Practices

Subfield: General Health Professions

Field: Health Professions

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: diamond

Funder: Ministério da Saúde