The Vice Minister of Public Health, Leonardo Rojas Mezarina, presented the Technical Document for strengthening the eleven renewed Essential Public Health Functions in Peru on March 16. This document is described as a strategic tool aimed at reinforcing the leadership and governance of the National Health Authority.
According to the Ministry of Health, this initiative is important because it seeks to address gaps in public health services and improve overall system performance. The process was developed with support from the Pan American Health Organization and World Health Organization, as well as participation from other health sector institutions such as EsSalud and civil society organizations.
“More than a document, it is a guide and a commitment that will help improve public health in the country and set the path for strengthening the health system,” said Rojas Mezarina.
The main goal of this initiative is to implement strategies that close identified gaps within the eleven essential functions. A total of 236 gaps were found, with 41 prioritized for policy development, resource allocation, and service access. The process involved building consensus among technical teams from the Ministry of Health and sector specialists to define objectives, responsibilities, and indicators for implementation.
Key targets outlined in the document include implementing a national monitoring and evaluation system for these functions, achieving maturity level three for the National Regulatory Authority according to World Health Organization standards, reducing at least 30 percent of prioritized gaps in these functions, integrating research agendas with public policies and financing into national planning, and incorporating these functions into regional and local health plans with accountability mechanisms.
The ceremony was attended by Maureen Birmingham, representative of PAHO in Peru; directors from DIRIS; hospitals; and institutes from the Ministry of Health.
