The
Peruvian health sector's FY 2022 Budget entails an annual expenditure of S/22 billion (over US$5.5 billion), up 6% over that of the current year.
Among its priorities are the financing for the prevention and response to the COVID-19 pandemic,
Health Minister Hernando Cevallos Flores reported last Tuesday during his presentation at Congress of the Republic.
The Health Ministry's head specified that —within the framework of the fight against COVID-19— a budget of S/1.103 billion (about US$276 million) was requested, which will allow financing for prevention, control, surveillance, and health response actions, while S/1.927 billion (about US$482 million) will be allocated for the purchase of vaccines.
Likewise, it indicated that the continuity of the personnel hired under the modality established by
Legislative Decree No. 1057, the acquisition of PPE, medicines, medical supplies, medicinal oxygen, among others, have been ensured, guaranteeing the continuity of operations at healthcare facilities, as well as care and temporary isolation centers.
Among the main objectives supported by the minister are: reducing the prevalence of anemia in girls and boys (aged: 6 months to 3 years) by 10%; achieving complete vaccination of children under 14 months; providing greater and better service at the care level for pregnant mothers and coverage of antiretroviral treatment of people infected with HIV.
During his presentation, Minister Cevallos emphasized that the care of tuberculosis patients, women suffering from cervical cancer, and those over 5 years of age —who suffer from diabetes mellitus— will be improved.
However, the Cabinet member clarified that the sector's budget is still insufficient to ensure that health is a right of all Peruvians, since merely relying on primary care level that the country needs demands an annual cost of S/12 billion (about US$3 billion).
"Starting to fulfill the historic commitment to restore Peruvian citizens' right to health requires a prioritized portfolio of 104 investment projects worth over an additional S/1.954 billion (about US$489 million)," he concluded.
(END) LIT/RMB/MVB
Publicado: 24/11/2021