President Martin Vizcarra on Wednesday affirmed that an agreement with private clinics is expected to be reached in 48 hours for the care of COVID-19 patients in exchange for a reasonable rate, which will be assumed by the Peruvian Government.
Within this this framework, the Government intends to set an adequate rate for patients who cannot be provided care at public health care facilities and —therefore— must go to private establishments.
However, an agreement has not been reached with private clinics yet.
"We are going to wait 48 hours to reach an agreement, let's hope it will be so, but if that is not the case —and thinking about health and lives— we will invoke Article 70 of the Constitution," he stated.
Said article claims that the right to property is inviolable, the State guarantees it, and no one can be deprived of it, except —exclusively— on grounds of national security or public need determined by law.
"If in the most serious crisis in history we are not in a context of public necessity, when?" the President expressed after reiterating his desire to reach a satisfactory agreement with those institutions.
Likewise, the Head of State stressed that —despite efforts to increase the response capacity of public health facilities— the clinics' commitment and contribution are needed.
In this sense, the top official said that if a citizen —who is affected by COVID-19— arrived at a public health care facility —which is full— he would have to go to a private clinic, and the cost would be assumed by the Government.
"The offer and counteroffer have been made, and we have been in this negotiation for so long. We are in this situation that is already reaching the limit," he noted after lamenting the cases of people whom some clinics have charged extremely-high rates.
Furthermore, the statesman mentioned that
Health Minister Victor Zamora is the one leading the dialogue with clinics, along with officials representing this sector as well as the Economy and Finance Ministry.
"We have to protect people's health supported by law and the Constitution," he said after stressing that the Government respects the right to private property, but the greatest asset is the human being, even more so in a context of pandemic.
On this occasion, the President was joined by members of the Council of Ministers. The event was held at the Government Palace in Lima.
Wednesday marks the one-hundred-first day of mandatory social isolation in Peru.