on Tuesday announced that the number of beds in hospitals' Intensive Care Units (ICUs) —which currently total 1,600 nationwide— will climb to 3,000 by July 28, 2021, the day on which President Martin Vizcarra will leave office.
Within this framework, the Cabinet chief stressed that —from Mid-March until July 2020— the country's hospital capacity has been expanded from 3,000 to 18,500 beds.
"Concerning
ICU beds, we started with 100. To date, we have 1,600 and the projection as of July 28, 2021 is 3,000, which is in line with other countries in the region," he expressed.
The high-ranking official mentioned that the Social Health Insurance System (EsSalud) has managed to add 7,968
regular beds for the exclusive care of COVID-19 patients, thus climbing from 392 in March to 8,360 as of today.
Similarly, 427 ICU beds have been added, going from 122 in March to 549.
Additionally, 950
general hospital beds are being implemented through rapid-construction hospitals in regions such as: Arequipa, Ica, La Libertad, Madre de Dios, Moquegua, Ilo, Tarapoto, Tumbes, Apurímac, Puno, Juliaca, Cusco and Lima.
In accordance with Article 130 of the Constitution, the President of the Council of Ministers must attend Congress —joined by his Cabinet— to present the Government's general policy and the principal measures pursued by the Executive Branch.