Chilean cancer funding concentrated in five specific pathologies

A study by the Center for Public Policy and Innovation in Health (CIPS) at the Universidad del Desarrollo reveals that five types of cancer accounted for 70.5% of the resources allocated to the Explicit Health Guarantees (GES) system in Chile during 2024.

Out of the 16 oncological pathologies analyzed, breast cancer received the highest funding at $81,107 million (23.1% of the total), followed by colorectal cancer at $71,347 million (20.3%), adult leukemia at $42,389 million (12.1%), prostate cancer at $26,789 million (7.6%), and cervical cancer at $25,849 million (7.4%).

While all five pathologies saw increases in benefits per inhabitant between 2018 and 2024, the growth rates varied significantly. Colorectal cancer saw a 57.4% increase, compared to 11.5% for breast cancer and 8.5% for cervical cancer. Paula Daza, executive director of CIPS-UDD, noted that the findings highlight the need to evaluate funding based on the specific requirements of each individual disease.