Health and Safety in Peru

The Ministry of Health (MINSA) is the administering arm of Peru for supervising, monitoring and managing all health issues, developmental programs, and other matters relating to the general wellbeing conditions of its citizens.  The 1995-2000 Health Policy Guidelines guides the Peruvian government in implementing various health strategies.  It includes the following policies: universal access to public health services and individual care; prevention and control of priority health problems; modernization of the sector; promotion of healthy living conditions; and, re-structuring functions of financing, provision and regulation. 

Between 1992 and 1996, Peru had 7-10 physicians, 5-7 nurses, and 1 dentist for every 10,000 of its population.  In 1998, Peru allotted 4% of its GDP to its health sector.  By the end of 2000, Peru had 1.2 hospital beds for every 1,000 of its population.  The percentage of homes with water supply and proper sanitation during the same year was 88.6%.  Almost 11 million Peruvians received $260 million worth of food assistance in 2000 funded by the public treasury. 

The public health sector involves the MINSA, the Social Security system (EsSalud), and health services of the police and armed forces.  The existing health priority strategies of the Peruvian government include the following:

• "Stop Tuberculosis" – uses DOTS (directly observed treatment, short course);
• eradication of polio and measles;
• "Roll Back Malaria";
• elimination of leprosy;
• elimination of Triatoma infestans from household environments;
• elimination of urban canine rabies;
• surveillance of antimicrobial resistance;
• safe blood supply; and
• surveillance, prevention, and control of other emerging and re-emerging diseases.