Resumen

CONTRERAS T, GUSTAVO; TORREALBA J, BERNARDITA  y  SALINAS F, MAURICIO. Work related respiratory diseases in Chile: Law 16.744. Rev. chil. enferm. respir. [online]. 2014, vol.30, n.1, pp.27-34. ISSN 0717-7348.  http://dx.doi.org/10.4067/S0717-73482014000100005.

Since 1968 Chile has two separate systems to manage the health problems of Chileans. One is devoted to prevent and care for all kind of diseases, from gestation to death, and the other one is devoted exclusively to work-related diseases and accidents. The last one has been very successful in lowering the work related accidents below 5%, rate that is similar to those of developed countries. The system has been replicated in other Latin-American countries. Occupational diseases, on the other hand, had been neglected by the system (although not in its design). The current article visit the most relevant aspects of the system and focus on the role of respiratory diseases specialists in the diagnosis and management of work related respiratory diseases.

Palabras clave : Occupational diseases; lung diseases; legal aspects.

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