INTRODUCTION:
Colorectal cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer mortality in Chile, with a steadily rising trend over the last few decades. (1)(2) Its late diagnosis, associated with nonspecific clinical manifestations, limits early detection and compromises the effectiveness of therapeutic interventions (3) (4). Given this epidemiological reality, the inclusion of colorectal cancer in the Explicit Health Guarantees (GES) program in 2013 represented a significant milestone in Chilean public health policy, aimed at ensuring timely access to diagnosis, comprehensive treatment, and continuous monitoring of this disease.

OBJECTIVE:
To describe the influence of the Explicit Health Guarantees public policy on colorectal cancer mortality in Chile between 2000 and 2023 (5)(6)

METHODS:
A quantitative, cross-sectional, descriptive study was conducted based on an interrupted time series design. The Newey-West estimator was applied with a 95% confidence interval, using as a source the official records of deaths from colorectal cancer available from the Chilean Department of Health Statistics and Information (DEIS) for the period 2000–2023 (7)

RESULTS:
Analysis of the time series with structural change detection showed a Chow F-statistic of 86.15 (p<0.01). Five statistically significant breakpoints (p<0.05) were identified in 2002, 2005, 2008, 2011, and 2014.

CONCLUSIONS:
The inclusion of colorectal cancer in the GES plan in 2013 coincided with a turning point in 2014, with no immediate reduction in mortality observed. This trend can be explained by the diagnostic complexity and clinical non-specificity of the disease. Since 2020, there has been a sustained downward trend, attributable to improved access, therapeutic continuity, and comprehensive management promoted by public policy, reflecting its positive and progressive impact on the health of the Chilean population, which translates into the current validity of the implementation of public policy (8).