The Ministry of Health is the maximum health authority, responsible for the "steering role" of the sector and for the direction and management of national health policy, as well as supervising its implementation. The regulatory role is reserved for the Ministry of Health, while the functions of sanitary regulation, prevention, and control, as well as other specific activities have been delegated to deconcentrated organizations.

In Peru, there are several health care subsystems, with limited functional coordination at national and subnational levels. On the other hand, an important segment of the population still does not have regular access to any of them. Health Sector Reform accounts for guiding principles based on the "Guidelines of Sectoral Policy 1995–2000" in a new legal framework. Provision of health services have been reoriented with criteria for health promotion, incorporating preventive-promotional aspects, socio-cultural adaptation and community participation.

Health System Profile of Peru

The second edition of the Health Services System Profile of Peru was prepared by a group of eight professionals and national political decision-makers from the Ministry of Public Health and PAHO/WHO. Technical coordination of the national group was the duty of the Office of PAHO/WHO in Peru. The external review was commissioned to teaching and research staff from the Catholic University of Peru. Final review, edition, and translation are the responsibility of the Health Systems and Policies Unit, PAHO/WHO, Washington, DC.

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Peru Country Profile - Health in the Americas, 2007
Link to Peru Ministry of Health
Link to PAHO/WHO country office in Peru