According to mortality records from the Department of Health Statistics and Information (DEIS) and official figures released in 2024 and 2025, the country recorded around 1,984 deaths by suicide over the past year, compared with 1,207 victims of completed homicides, according to the National Report on Homicide Victims compiled by the Under-Secretariat for Crime Prevention and the National Public Prosecutor’s Office.
Chile’s silent crisis: more people die by suicide than from homicides, and mental health is already having an impact on the country’s economy. Revista Tierra Bella (21th may 2026)
The Pharmacy Fund for Chronic Non-Communicable Diseases (FOFAR), one of the main programmes supporting patients with high blood pressure, diabetes and high cholesterol treated within the public healthcare system, is listed in the Ministry of Treasury's proposal for discontinuation as part of a government-led review of public spending. The measure forms part of a document drawn up by the Budget Directorate (Dipres), which identifies hundreds of state programmes subject to evaluation for the 2027 Budget. Among these are various initiatives by the Ministry of Health, including FOFAR. What is FOFAR? FOFAR funds the procurement and free provision of medicines for people with chronic conditions who are treated within the primary healthcare system. Thanks to this fund, Family Health Centres (CESFAMs) are able to maintain a supply of treatments for patients with highly prevalent conditions such as high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes mellitus and dyslipidaemia. In many municipalities, these resources have also made it possible to supplement local authority programmes providing home delivery of medicines to older people and those with reduced mobility.
Kast’s government is considering discontinuing Fofar in the 2017 budget: the programme benefits thousands of patients with chronic illnesses. Revista Tierra Bella (2nd july 2026)
El Ministerio de Hacienda solicitó al Ministerio de Salud descontinuar al menos 24 programas sanitarios de cara al presupuesto 2027, como pa
