The Ministry of Health of Peru announced on May 2 the approval of Ministerial Resolution No. 442-2026/MINSA, which enacts a list of prioritized health services for rural border or emergency zones under the ‘Works for Taxes’ investment model.
This measure aims to improve the prevention and control of vector-borne diseases such as dengue, malaria, and yellow fever. The resolution establishes spatial fogging in homes during outbreaks or epidemics caused by arboviruses. This action is intended to strengthen control over adult vectors through targeted interventions in affected areas.
The regulation also reinforces the Observation Unit for febrile patients within health establishments equipped with Febrile Units. This enhancement is designed to improve early diagnosis and timely treatment, strengthen endemic disease control, and monitor patients with dengue more effectively.
Additionally, the resolution supports the Clinical Surveillance Unit (UVICLIN), where patients referred from Febrile Units receive specialized monitoring and clinical management to prevent severe complications. The implementation of UVICLIN is considered fundamental in remote and border regions where an increase in febrile cases often leads to more patients showing warning signs associated with dengue.
Laboratory diagnostics will also be strengthened in rural and hard-to-reach areas. According to the Ministry, laboratory improvements are expected to enhance epidemiological surveillance, enable immediate diagnosis and real-time monitoring, reduce underreporting in remote zones, and allow early detection of diseases such as dengue, malaria, leptospirosis, influenza, whooping cough, hepatitis, measles, yellow fever, and Zika virus.
The Ministry has defined specific objectives for implementing these measures along with operational definitions for services provided. Physical targets have been set as well as indicators and assigned responsibilities.
