Public expenditures with hospital and out-of-hospital services in Chilean community model of mental health

Abstract

The following study analyzes public spending on Mental Health within the framework of the implementation of the community model in Chile. It examines the financing mechanism and the allocation of financial resources in Mental Health, considering the resources executed in hospital and out-of-hospital services in the public health system during the period 2014-2018. In general, an increase in the number of hospital and out-of-hospital services is observed, as well as in the expense derived from them. The largest increases in monetary investment refer to the application of electroshock, rehabilitation programs type 2, full bed-day psychiatric/diurnal treatments and full bed-day hospitalization/short-stay. It is concluded that the validity of the asylum model, the biomedical predominance and the excessive medicalization in Mental Health support an inequity in the valuation of services as well as an unequal distribution of public resources. This situation requires a reorientation of state spending towards community services that guarantee citizenship rights and the promotion of well-being.

Keywords:
Mental Health; Health System; Public Expenditure; Community Model; Chile