Abstract

The Chilean Society of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation has been operating for more than 50 years and this spe-cialty has been gradually consolidated in the country. Thus, the rehabilitation model in Chile has changed from one centered in hospitals to a network of community-based rehabilitation institutions, and the actions of the physiatrists in the country range outpatient healthcare to attention of patients in critical care units. There are currently 334 physiatrists accredited with the specialty in the country and in the last ten years it has been registered an increase from one to five training programs in this specialty, as a response to the growing demand for rehabilitation services and, consequently, for professionals in the area. The development of research in the area of physical medicine and rehabilitation is still discrete and its production is pre-dominantly in national journals. Furthermore, the global health contingency due to the COVID-19 pandemics demanded an adaptation of the role of the physiatrists, which is why today their main challenges are to deepen in the health improve-ment of the individuals with disabilities and to support local and international rehabilitation policies and strategies.