Minister of Health Juan Carlos Velasco announced on May 15 the opening of the XLIII Ordinary Meeting of the Intergovernmental Health Commission, which serves as a key platform for coordination between the Ministry of Health and regional governments to strengthen the national health system and ensure timely care across Peru.
This meeting is considered important because it marks a new phase in collaboration with regional health directorates and management offices to implement health priorities set for 2026. Velasco said, “Health does not know bureaucracy or regional borders; health is a right that requires us to work as one. In these 100 days leading the Ministry, we have executed two models: Works for Taxes, such as Huarmey Hospital, and Public-Private Partnership at Villa El Salvador Emergency Hospital.”
Velasco also said that this session is especially relevant because it will allow participants to review progress on 57 agreements made during the previous ordinary meeting in December 2025. These agreements focus on improving quality of care and addressing major public health challenges.
“We need to look for strategies because our reason is the citizen. Under this concept, vaccination against respiratory syncytial virus was approved. And in fifteen days, the country’s new vaccine schedule will be ready,” Velasco said. He added that there are ambitious goals ahead and an intense technical agenda covering critical issues such as strengthening vaccination programs, combating dengue and cancer, reducing surgical backlogs, implementing a Digital Hospital initiative, and launching “The Route of Health: Prevention from Territory” strategy aimed at reinforcing comprehensive care models.
“The Digital Hospital will be a key tool for modernization and access. Also, reducing surgical backlogs seeks to provide timely responses to those who have waited too long for care,” he said.
Representatives from all three levels of government are participating in this edition of the commission’s meeting—including members from the National Assembly of Regional Governments, Association of Municipalities of Peru, and Network of Urban and Rural Municipalities—with an aim to implement policies that improve governance within Peru’s healthcare system.
The Intergovernmental Health Commission meets four times per year as its main mechanism for coordination between national government and regions in order to monitor public health conditions continuously and drive improvements benefiting citizens.
