The health situation in Chile is analyzed. The influence of geographic, ethnic, racial, demographic, socio-economic and cultural factors is considered. Strategies for prevention depend on the epidemiologic status of communities. The quality and availability of health care services is considered to be the main factor influencing health maintenance in Chile. The present health coverage situation which provides for health insurance to 15% of the population using 37% of the resources is clearly inappropriate. The separation of hospitals and outpatient facilities is recognized as an unfavourable situation. A worrying increment in the incidence of tuberculosis and a stagnation in the improvement of maternal child health indexes since 1983 have been observed. Priorities for health development and modifications in health care and prevention systems are discussed.