The Ministry of Health of Peru announced on April 6 that it has begun a process to strengthen health services with an intercultural approach in the Huancavelica region. The initiative involves evaluating six health centers located in the province of Tayacaja and will continue until Friday, April 10.
The evaluation aims to ensure that healthcare is provided while respecting cultural and linguistic diversity as well as traditional practices among indigenous populations. This approach seeks to improve access and quality of care for rural and indigenous communities.
Rosa Albina Burgos Aliaga, executive director of the Directorate for Indigenous or Native Peoples at the Ministry of Health, said that the assessment covers Dos de Mayo, Ahuaycha, San José, Nueva Esperanza, Socorro, and San Miguel de Huallhua health establishments. “In these locations, the Ministry is implementing various actions aimed at improving quality care with respect for the cultural identity of the population, promoting more accessible, humane services free from discrimination,” Burgos Aliaga said.
The process includes verifying key measures such as removing language barriers, respecting cultural practices, adapting services to local social contexts, and coordinating with traditional medicine. These steps are considered essential for guaranteeing full exercise of health rights by indigenous peoples.
With these six additional centers evaluated under this framework in Huancavelica, there will be a total of 74 qualified facilities. This marks significant progress toward implementing an intercultural approach within Peru’s healthcare system and reducing gaps in access to medical services among rural and indigenous populations.
This effort follows Administrative Directive No. 261-MINSA/2019/DGIESP: “Administrative Directive for Intercultural Adaptation of Health Establishments Providing Care to Indigenous or Native Peoples,” which was approved by Ministerial Resolution No. 519-2019/MINSA.
