The future of health is cooperative

In the current process of reforming Chile’s health system, one of the most pressing challenges is to find financing models which promote solidarity and improve access to medical care for all citizens..

With the aim of spreading and promoting this valuable alternative, the health cooperative Sermecoop organised a seminar on 18 July in Santiago de Chile entitled “The future of health is cooperative”. The event brought together experts, sector leaders and government representatives with a common interest in promoting health models based on solidarity.

One of the highlighted moments of the seminar was the participation of the Fundación Espriu, sharing the successful experience of Assistència Sanitaria and Asisa, two cooperative-based organisations with a long history of success in the Spanish health system. The event also featured the participation of other internationally renowned health cooperatives, such as Unimed, from Brazil, and Sanatorio Americano, from Uruguay, sharing their experiences and successes in the promotion of health through cooperativism.

The seminar was attended by illustrious figures from the health sector, including former Chilean health ministers Pedro García and Enrique Paris. In addition, representatives from the Ministry of Economy and other leaders in the sector provided their perspectives on the role that cooperatives can play in building a more inclusive and sustainable health system in Chile.

In the context of the health reform, the Chilean cooperative movement is working to achieve a regulation which places cooperatives on an equal level with other types of business in the health sector, allowing a more equitable environment for the development of these solidarity initiatives.

The Chilean cooperative Sermecoop stands out in this endeavour, which since 1967 has been establishing agreements with workers in local companies, enabling them to join the cooperative and gain access to health services not covered by other sources of public or private funding.

Today, the cooperative has agreements with 312 companies and brings together more than 96,000 members, making it an example of the growth and relevance of health cooperatives in Chile.