The Ministry of Health (Minsa) has invested S/24 million (around US$7 million) in the purchase of medicines to treat the novel coronavirus (covid-19), which will be distributed to first-level health care facilities, Health Minister Victor Zamora reported.
Given the imbalance between the supply and demand for generic drugs —especially those for the treatment of covid-19— Minsa has invested in their purchase and will
distribute them to health centers and posts, he explained.
"Our goal is to provide timely and immediate care to patients. Demand grew steadily as we approved protocols that included new drugs," the Cabinet member told
TV Peru.
The minister noted that a formal and institutional alliance will be formed with the private sector in order to prevent an increase in the prices of medicines, with a view to controlling such situation.
When asked about when the number of cases will start to go down, Zamora explained that Peru is experiencing a
prolonged plateau in covid-19 cases, whose end time cannot be specified as there are variables that might change the situation.
Invisible and deadly enemy
Coronaviruses are a family of viruses that cause illnesses ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases such as the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) or the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). These viruses can be transmitted between animals and people.
The novel coronavirus (covid-19) is a new strain that had not been previously identified in humans. It is transmitted from human to human through respiratory droplets from coughing and sneezing. Covid-19 is also transmitted by close contact with people infected by the virus.
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Published: 5/21/2020