The CNEP presented its main findings and recommendations in the Senate and emphasized the importance of evaluating public policies

Monday, April 15, 2024. Raphael Bergoeing, President of the National Commission for Evaluation and Productivity (CNEP), accompanied by executive secretary Rodrigo Krell, delivered a comprehensive overview of the CNEP’s work to the Senate’s economics committee. They highlighted the importance of systematically evaluating public policies and shared key findings from their research since the commission’s inception in 2015.

Bergoeing emphasized the ongoing efforts to establish a medium-term evaluation agenda and the significant potential for enhancing the quality of public policies in Chile. He emphasized the critical role of systematic policy evaluation, including tax and pension reforms and continuous regulatory reviews.

Bergoeing outlined several noteworthy findings across various sectors, including mining, health, permits, and education. These included statistics such as the notably higher productivity of certain mining companies compared to the global average, the underutilization of surgical theaters in the public sector, and the inefficiencies in the process of granting investment permits.

Highlighting the persistent stagnation of productivity in Chile over the past 15 years, Bergoeing identified it as a primary factor contributing to the country’s low economic growth in the previous decade. He emphasized the urgent need for measures to address this issue, pointing out the need for a structured system for evaluating public policies in Chile as a significant impediment to progress.

While acknowledging that there is no one-size-fits-all solution, Bergoeing stressed the importance of implementing targeted reforms to improve productivity. He illustrated this with examples such as enhancing management practices in healthcare to increase efficiency without necessarily increasing spending.

Bergoeing also highlighted the positive impact of the Ministry of Health’s pilot program, the Regional Resolution Centers (RRC), which followed recommendations from the CNEP. The program substantially increased daily surgical treatments in 2024, prompting the Ministry of Health to expand the program across the country’s hospital network.

To date, the CNEP has made 513 recommendations for public policy, 32% of which have been adopted. These initiatives underscore the commission’s commitment to enhancing productivity and fostering sustainable growth in Chile.