Biological Research (Jan 2015)

A snapshot of cancer in Chile: analytical frameworks for developing a cancer policy

  • Jorge Jimenez de la Jara,
  • Gabriel Bastias,
  • Catterina Ferreccio,
  • Cristian Moscoso,
  • Sofia Sagues,
  • Camilo Cid,
  • Eduardo Bronstein,
  • Cristian Herrera,
  • Bruno Nervi,
  • Alejandro Corvalan,
  • Ethel V Velasquez,
  • Pamela Gonzalez,
  • Enrique Castellon,
  • Eva Bustamante,
  • Sergio Oñate,
  • Eileen McNerney,
  • Richard Sullivan,
  • Gareth I Owen

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/0717-6287-48-10
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 48, no. 0
pp. 1 – 10

Abstract

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INTRODUCTION: The South American country Chile now boasts a life expectancy of over 80 years. As a consequence, Chile now faces the increasing social and economic burden of cancer and must implement political policy to deliver equitable cancer care. Hindering the development of a national cancer policy is the lack of comprehensive analysis of cancer infrastructure and economic impact. OBJECTIVES: Evaluate existing cancer policy, the extent of national investigation and the socio-economic impact of cancer to deliver guidelines for the framing of an equitable national cancer policy. METHODS: Burden, research and care-policy systems were assessed by triangulating objective system metrics -epidemiological, economic, etc. - with political and policy analysis. Analysis of the literature and governmental databases was performed. The oncology community was interviewed and surveyed. RESULTS: Chile utilizes 1% of its gross domestic product on cancer care and treatment. We estimate that the economic impact as measured in Disability Adjusted Life Years to be US$ 3.5 billion. Persistent inequalities still occur in cancer distribution and treatment. A high quality cancer research community is expanding, however, insufficient funding is directed towards disproportionally prevalent stomach, lung and gallbladder cancers. CONCLUSIONS: Chile has a rapidly ageing population wherein 40% smoke, 67% are overweight and 18% abuse alcohol, and thus the corresponding burden of cancer will have a negative impact on an affordable health care system. We conclude that the Chilean government must develop a national cancer strategy, which the authors outline herein and believe is essential to permit equitable cancer care for the country.

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