[The need for psychiatrists in Chile. A projection for the year 2,000]

In less than 15 year's time, the number of psychiatrists available should have increased twofold. It is thus calculated that about 500 psychiatrists would be working by 1990. An uneven regional distribution, however still survives with 80% of professionals congregated in the Chilean capital city area--less than 25% professionals working with the Health Services National System (SNSS) which is supposed to cover 75% of nationwide care. Besides, no psychiatric care is available as far as peripheral offices are concerned. By resorting to several parameters (vg. psychiatric needs according to prevalent pathologies, care demands, and ratio), as well as national data, and various author's opinion, it is estimated that about 650 psychiatrists will be needed in the year 2000. Hence, about 220 new psychiatrists should be trained during the 10 years ahead, if population's vegetative growth as well as replacements due to retirement, death, etc. are taken into account.