Cancer care in Chile.

Cancer is responsible for 22% of deaths in Chile and this proportion is increasing every year. After years of comparative neglect, the Chilean government is now attempting to implement a systematic anticancer policy rooted in evidence-based medicine. Major reform of the national health system promises to guarantee healthcare for those affected by "catastrophic" illnesses. However, budgetary constraints mean that only some cancers will count as catastrophic. This Reportage considers how cancer care has evolved in Chile over recent years and examines the rationale behind the allocation of scarce resources.