Chile Strengthens National Cancer Control, Views Expansion of Radiopharmaceutical Production

The imPACT team of 13 international experts reviewed cancer prevention, early detection, diagnosis, treatment and palliative care, as well as nuclear and radiation medicine safety. For the first time, the imPACT review also included radiopharmaceutical production.

The assessment underlined Chile’s achievements in cancer control, including universal health coverage, the adoption of latest technologies and a highly trained health workforce sustained by strong academic institutions.

At the same time, the team identified opportunities for improvement, such as strengthening governance and coordination mechanisms for cancer control, reducing waiting times, increasing access in underserved regions, and enhancing national cancer surveillance and information systems.

Chile has a well-established national governance structure for cancer control, which includes the Child and Adolescent Cancer Plan 2023-2028 and the Adult Action Plan for the National Cancer Plan 2022-2027. ?

“Chile’s cancer control strategy is rooted in inclusive and participatory processes. The involvement of stakeholders from across ministries, academia and civil society is essential to address the most pressing challenges,” said Bernardo Martorell Guerra, Vice Minister of?Healthcare Networks at MINSAL.

The country is seeking to expand cancer control activities, including enhanced infectious disease control, addressing risk behaviours such as tobacco use and expanding access to radiation medicine.

One area of strategic opportunity identified by the team is radiopharmacy, where Chile has an established national infrastructure and technical expertise, led by public-sector Comisión Chilena de Energía Nuclear (CCHEN) and the private company PositronPharma. Together, they produce a wide range of radiopharmaceuticals, with PositronPharma alone producing over 37,000 PET doses in 2024 and supplying more than 90% of the national market.

The imPACT review highlighted the importance of developing a decentralized production and supply network for radiopharmaceuticals to boost national coverage and regional export, particularly given the concentration of production and services in the capital, Santiago, and the need to ensure more equitable access across the country.

“With the right investment and regulatory alignment, radiopharmacy can become a driver of economic development and innovation in Chile’s health sector,” noted Miguel Avilla, imPACT review expert in radiopharmacy and nuclear medicine. ?

The mission concluded with a national workshop to validate findings and developed a set of short-, medium- and long-term priorities. These will contribute to shaping future national planning and international cooperation in cancer control. ?

The IAEA has a long-established collaboration with Chile to support the use of radiation medicine as an integral component of cancer care. In 2018, through its technical cooperation and human health programmes, the IAEA set up a master’s programme in advanced radiotherapy in collaboration with the Arturo López Pérez Foundation and the Universidad de los Andes in a bid to overcome a shortage of qualified radiation oncologists in Latin America.

More recently, as part of the IAEA Rays of Hope initiative to bridge gaps in diagnostic imaging and radiotherapy, Chile received two mammography machines to support the Government’s efforts to decentralize cancer care.