The social security system in Chile grants workers the right to take leave or to reduce their working day hours when faced with a disease that creates temporary disability. This right is materialized in an instrument called “medical leave”. Formal proceedings to obtain this leave must be carried out in person, filling in paper forms. These proceeding can be cumbersome and inefficient.

In this sense, the Electronic Medical Leave (Licencia Médica Electrónica (LME)) facilitates the provision and processing of medical leaves by using technology. It is characterized by the use of electronic documents and means of communication, without changing the rights and obligations of the actors involved in the process. Using this tool is voluntary and it does not imply any change or charge for the worker because the proceeding is entirely free.

The Superintendents’ Office of Social Security has led this project of high impact and public value, which provides benefits and helps to solve problems in a complex scenario, thanks to the fact that electronic medical leaves are faster, cheaper and safer to process, and easier to monitor.