For decades the Chilean Health Ecosystem has been struggling to better serve it’s population, whom over 70% are under the public health insurance service (FONASA). Regrettably even though health spending has doubled over the past 10 years, productivity has decreased up to a 30%. With the higher life expectancy in South America, there is an increased risk for cancer and non communicable diseases mainly because of high obesity rates and tobacco use. The increase in morbidity will become a mayor challenge in the upcoming years and demand new approaches such as prevention focused interventions, home monitoring and home hospitalization that will be heavily reliant on new technologies.
Over the years, attempts have also been made to accelerate the digital transformation of the sector but the lack of clear policies, have resulted in a very heterogeneous and segmented health system where information exchange is not readily available. Because of this, patients often have to visit several health providers to account for all their health needs and it is not unlikely for them to have to retake the same exams, or to wait for several months for a consultation.
Luckily, as a positive side effect of the COVID pandemic, digital health has taken huge leaps and it’s now widely used. Health teams were forced to adapt swiftly and regulations have begun to change to accommodate for new telehealth services.
With the recently passed Telemedicine Law, the modification to the public acquisitions law and the upcoming health registry interoperability law, there is a huge opportunity for new players to enter the market and develop the solutions that are needed to provide a better and more connected care.
But we still have a long way to go. Health provider capabilities to adopt and assess new technologies are still limited and they are often unaware of the needs of the population they serve. Entrepreneurs and startups have to face huge barriers to validate their solutions and enter the market and universities perform limited applied research in the area and could benefit from the network and know-how of the private sector to turn their research into actionable products to better serve patients.
Health innovation ecosystems are transforming healthcare all over the world and
ECOS, the first Chilean health innovation ecosystem, aims to facilitate cooperation and coevolution among its members to fortify and adapt the healthcare system, by harnessing the collective resources and capabilities of all the involved players.
ECOS represents more than just an initiative; it embodies a collective commitment to building a resilient, efficient, and agile healthcare system that prioritizes patient outcomes and well-being, enhances workforce satisfaction, and advances health equity. Join us on April 24th, at 15:00 (GMT-4) as we embark on a journey towards a brighter future for healthcare in Chile.
