Experts question gov’t decision to appoint ‘inexperienced’ health minister

Lima, Peru – Experts and academics have been questioning the latest decision of the government to appoint Peru’s health minister, who is accused by experts and Peruvians at large of being “inexperienced.”

The appointment of Hernan Condori as the minister of health has caused controversy across Peru because of his lack of experience and several other scandals associated with his name.

This prompted Peruvians, the scientific community in the country, the Medical College of Peru and Congress to demand his removal from his post.

Dr. Raúl Urquizo, Dean of the Medical College of Peru, said that Peru is lagging in terms of its health system regionally, adding that the authorities have overlooked recommendations to improve and modernize the sector and said that the health sector has continued to “deteriorate.”

“The country’s public health system is one of the least funded in the region. For many years we’ve asked for more but it has been overlooked by politicians. With the advent of the pandemic, we’ve seen the manifestation of the deterioration of the public health system, “ the dean said.

The dean said that the minister has a “series of negative antecedents” that make him ineligible to take the position.

“The current Health Minister is being questioned and will be censored because we advertised an alleged medicine with no scientific basis, he’s being investigated for corruption, he has posed as a doctor of a different kind of specialties other than his.”

Also, researcher Almendra Rodriguez added that the current health minister not only lacks experience in public health in terms of having managed the public administration, but he hasn’t worked in any high-ranking position in the health ministry.

Experts pointed out the poor health conditions in Peru resulting from the pandemic, saying that their country has the highest rate of deaths, according to John Hopkins University.

“There are serious deficiencies in the public health system in terms of infrastructure, human resources, and lack of medical equipment. According to the Health Minister in 2020, one of two medical establishments didn’t have any medics,” Rodriguez said.