Peru strengthens healthcare capacity ahead of El Niño weather pattern
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The government of Peru, led by President Keiko Fujimori, is working to prepare healthcare facilities in the Piura region for the potential impacts of the El Niño weather pattern.
Minister of Labor and Employment Juan Sheput and EsSalud’s acting executive president Hilda Sandoval visited hospitals in Talara and Sullana to assess their readiness. They identified gaps in equipment, staffing, and specialized care, and ordered improvements to ensure continued service for patients.
During the visits, officials in Talara confirmed plans to add a second operating room, which should increase the hospital’s surgical capacity by about 30%. They also investigated why a CT scanner intended for the hospital was not yet installed and ordered a review of the decision. In Sullana, the team prioritized increasing the number of specialist doctors and support staff to reduce the need to transfer patients to other cities for treatment. Both hospitals have recently undergone improvements.
Sullana’s daily patient capacity doubled from around 260 to nearly 520 patients, and a new emergency room with six beds was opened. The officials also inspected a new area dedicated to treating patients with fever and potential dengue cases, highlighting coordination between EsSalud and the Ministry of Health to address potential outbreaks. Sheput stated that these unannounced visits will continue to identify problems and accelerate solutions for patients.
