Chilean households face high medication costs

A recent survey conducted by the Instituto de Políticas Públicas en Salud (Ipsuss) and the Universidad San Sebastián reveals significant financial burdens regarding healthcare in Chile. Approximately 69.6% of households report spending more than $30,000 CLP monthly on medications.

Jorge Acosta, executive director of Ipsuss, noted that this expenditure represents a heavy burden for many families, particularly those earning less than $700,000 CLP per month. The study warns that high costs may lead patients with chronic conditions, such as diabetes or hypertension, to abandon their treatments to manage household budgets, potentially leading to medical complications.

Regarding the reasons for these out-of-pocket expenses, 37.2% of respondents stated their required medications were not covered by their health plans, while 29.1% reported that the necessary drugs were unavailable at their designated medical facilities.