The presidential candidate for the progressive and left-wing forces has presented the “Remedios Ya” (Medicines Now) proposal, which seeks to guarantee the free distribution of medicines for chronic patients and a health system that responds to the majority, not to private interests. In contrast, the far-right candidate, José Antonio Kast, presented Jorge Quiroz as part of his team, who has been implicated for his role in the pharmacy collusion scandal.
El Siglo, Santiago. Jeannette Jara has outlined a plan to guarantee access to medicines, reduce spending on medication, and provide peace of mind, particularly for the elderly, regarding access to the necessary medicines for their health treatments.
The presidential candidate for the progressive and left-wing forces presented the “Remedios Ya” proposal, which seeks to guarantee the free distribution of medicines for chronic patients and a health system that responds to the majority, and not to private interests.
The presidential campaign has once again highlighted the profound differences between those who defend the interests of big business and those who promote a project in the service of the real Chile. José Antonio Kast (far-right candidate) presented figures such as Bernardo Fontaine and Jorge Quiroz as part of his economic team; the latter was directly implicated for his role in the pharmacy collusion scandal. This record makes it clear who they represent: the groups that have for years benefited from abusive prices and a model that made health into a business, leaving millions of families in debt to pay for their medicines.
At the opposite end, Jeannette Jara launched her “Remedios Ya” programme, designed to guarantee access to medicines with free distribution for chronic patients, such as people with hypertension or diabetes. The measure aims to prevent the elderly and families from continuing to spend time and money on travel and long queues to access their treatments.
The plan also includes the initiative “Remedios para tu bolsillo” (Medicines for Your Pocket), which will strengthen CENABAST as a central purchaser of medicines, regulating the prices of essential medication and committing to a reduction of at least 10% in families’ out-of-pocket expenditure. This is in addition to the expansion of Fonasa (National Health Fund) coverage in private clinics with minimal co-payments, allowing users to access a broader network without being trapped on endless waiting lists.
Jara’s proposal is part of a broader view of health as a right: the creation of a Universal Health Insurance scheme, a plan for 150,000 additional surgeries in three years, and a national cancer strategy that includes the construction of 10 oncology centres in the regions and specific programmes for breast and gynaecological cancers.
The battle over health also reflects who is on the side of the citizens. While Kast trusts economists linked to practices that harmed millions of people, Jara proposes a model that prioritises real access to treatments, reducing medicine prices, and a strengthened public network. It is not just about management, but about deciding whether health will be a guaranteed right or will remain a privilege for a few.
Speaking about her plan regarding access to medicines in Coyhaique (a city in Chile’s far South) on Radio Ventisquero, she stated: “We want that when a person is over 65 or is a chronic patient, their medicines can be dispatched directly to their home.”
She explained that “this will be done with a distribution system using intelligence and technology, guaranteeing a timely and free home delivery service so that primary care controls or primary care centres are not overwhelmed with elderly people, or so that chronic patients don’t have to go and collect them.”
The proposal from the candidate of the governing party proposes home delivery through a National Intelligent Medicine Distribution System, in a public-private collaboration. To this end, they will seek agreements and tenders with large existing delivery operators. Furthermore, the system will be supported by digital technology, with the electronic prescription integrated into the Patient Portal, which will allow for the secure management of delivery orders and tracking them in real time.
Jara stressed that “our commitment is simple, but unbreakable: that no one is impoverished by falling ill, because the dignity and well-being of people must always be the first priority.”
The presidential candidate stated that one goal is to ensure that “no one who is ill has the fear of not receiving timely medical attention or not being able to pay for it. We need people to have this peace of mind, and not to live in uncertainty any longer.”