Efficiency and sustainability in clinical management in Peru during the pandemic

Abstract

Clinical management in Peru is overseen by the Ministry of Health (MINSA), which is the government institution responsible for ensuring citizens’ right to health. In the face of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Peruvian health system has been highly impacted, due to its limited ability to provide an efficient response, and given shortfalls in terms of resources and the inadequate training of clinical and hospital staff. These factors are the result of low budget allocation to the sector, which makes the need for more investment and financial support by the government an urgent necessity. The challenges posed by the pandemic have resulted in efforts to modernize and implement basic hospital care capable, at least, of serving the most vulnerable sectors of the population. However, in order to achieve efficiency and sustainability, the Peruvian health system will need to implement improvements in the clinical and administrative management of its health centers, as well as improving waste management. The pandemic in Peru has led to new challenges for clinical management and highlighted the need for modernization, and a greater contribution in the form of taxes will be required in order to provide basic health services and to cope with the Covid-19 pandemic.