Medical care in Santiago, 1993 Atención médica en Santiago, 1993.

Abstract

Results of morbidity and medical care surveys performed in Santiago in 1993-94 are presented in this paper. The study has been done in an aleatory population sample of 4,700 people coming from 1,000 dwellings. Main results are as following: The Health National Fund (FONASA) is the most important financing medical care's agency in Santiago (49% out of total population). A majority of medical services are given in private offices or clinics. Medical care systems show significant differences among the studied city districts. A significant direct correlation between people's income and private practice is noticed. One half of acute diseases had medical care and the other half used self care practices; the proportion of medical care is 29% in the case of chronic disease patients. National Health Service eligible people show a significant higher morbidity rate and medical consultation rate than other groups. Lack of medical care mainly depends on low severity of illness episodes or lack of s