Genomic medicine is defined as the application of the knowledge originating from the Human Genome Project in health sciences. It has a vertiginous advance in developed countries, but its use in developing regions is scanty. This contributes to global health inequalities, stressing one of the greatest ethical problems that mankind is facing. In a study leaded by the University of Toronto Center of Bioethics, 28 highly qualified scientists elaborated a list of the ten most important biotechnologies to improve public health in developing countries. Several of these technologies are successfully applied in countries such as China, Cuba and Mexico. The factors that are hindering the application of such technologies in Chile, are briefly discussed (Rev Méd Chile 2005; 133: 1108-10)