Deputy warns of price discrepancies for medical exams

SANTIAGO.- Deputy Jorge Burgos (DC) has issued a call for authorities to clarify what is happening at private clinics where, according to him, there are "abysmal differences" in the prices of exams.

The Member of Parliament has said that exam price discrepancies between one clinic and another can sometimes be up to 450%, alluding to Las Condes, Alemana, Santa María, Indisa, Tabancura and Dávila, as well as the clinics at the Universidad Católica and the Universidad de Chile.

In light of this information, the deputy has asked that the situation be clarified and requested, as a preliminary measure, that the Superintendencia de Isapres publish the prices of basic medical exams on its website so that patients know where to go and how to choose.

"For example", stated Burgos, "if a patient needs to have a biochemical profile done, the highest price is at Clínica Alemana, where it costs more than 23 thousand pesos, and the lowest price is at Clínica Dávila, where it costs almost 9 thousand pesos. There is a 162% difference".

Burgos added that "in the case of emergency medical attention at night, the most expensive medical center is Clínica Las Condes, which charges 70,900 pesos, while the most reasonably priced is the Hospital Clínico at the Universidad de Chile, for 25,900 pesos".

Finally, the deputy asked the Minister of Health, the Superintendent of Isapres and the Director of the National Consumer Service to inform the Chamber of Deputies about the measures that are being adopted with respect to the matter.