[Chilean hospitals: availability and productivity of the public and private sectors].

Hospital bed availability, trends in number of beds, productivity and administrative aspects in the public and private hospital sectors are analyzed. At present, there are 3.3 beds per 1000 population in Chile. This represents a decrease from previous figures, in spite of increasing demands derived from population aging and greater birth assistance needs. Overall productivity of the hospital system is reflected in 31 annual admissions per bed, an average hospital stay of 8 days and a 75% occupancy rate. The National Health Service System is responsible for 76% of admissions. However, it takes care of more than 90% of bed needs for tuberculosis patients and more than 80% for hospital birth assistance, complications of pregnancy, perinatal disease, communicable diseases, respiratory illnesses, miscarriages and skin diseases. The private sector takes care of more than 40% of rheumatic and musculo skeletal diseases and more than one third of mental health problems. The National Health Service, compared to the private sector, exhibits a greater occupancy rate with an average stay only one day longer. Complexities of hospital administration, new world trends and the relation to external economic resources are discussed.