The Ministry of Health (Minsa) announced on Mar. 24 that it has increased its capacity to fight tuberculosis by 250% compared to the previous year, with more than 249,000 molecular tests conducted between 2024 and 2025.
This development comes as part of efforts to improve early diagnosis and treatment for tuberculosis, a major public health challenge in Peru. The ministry reported that the deployment of 137 molecular biology devices, including GeneXpert and Truenat machines across the country, has enabled faster and more accurate detection of cases. These tools also help identify drug-resistant forms of tuberculosis so that appropriate treatments can be administered quickly.
Under the leadership of Minister Juan Carlos Velasco Guerrero, Minsa is focusing on protecting the population from preventable diseases and ensuring access to essential medicines. The ministry has strengthened diagnostic services at primary care centers by implementing 59 digital X-ray machines equipped with artificial intelligence in Lima Metropolitana and other regions. These devices can detect lung abnormalities within seconds, aiding early identification.
In terms of treatment advances, Minsa is adopting shorter oral regimens for drug-resistant tuberculosis as recommended by the World Health Organization. Over 3,023 people have received oral treatments; among them, 2,143 are using an innovative regimen called BPaLM which shortens treatment time and eliminates injectable medications.
Efforts also include active case finding among vulnerable groups through community outreach programs in shelters and prisons. More than 246,000 people at risk were screened during these activities; as a result, authorities detected over 3,700 cases who began immediate treatment. Prevention remains central to Minsa’s strategy: over the past year alone more than 16,000 individuals started preventive therapy for TB—particularly children exposed to TB cases, people living with HIV/AIDS, healthcare workers, inmates and other high-risk groups.
Training initiatives continue as well: forty training sessions have been held for nearly five thousand health professionals nationwide so they can provide timely comprehensive care.
Peru continues to face one of the highest burdens of tuberculosis in the Americas—especially concerning are multidrug-resistant forms such as TB-DR and rifampicin-resistant TB-RR—which require specialized diagnosis and care. The country remains one of thirty worldwide with high rates of multidrug-resistant TB according to national health authorities who reaffirm their commitment to sustained prevention efforts.
