Living in Peru : your everyday companion

Living in Peru
Israel J. Ruiz

Attorney General Gladys Echaiz Ramos, announced on Wednesday evening that an investigation would begin to find the cause of death of patients that died in state hospitals while doctors were on strike.

Echaiz Ramos explained that after investigations were finished, it would be determined if doctors, who began a national strike on Monday, were responsible for the death of several patients.

She affirmed legal punishments would be placed on doctors if they were found guilty.

Furthermore, the Attorney General ordered that state prosecutors randomly and without notice visit health institutions and their emergency rooms to make sure patients were not being denied help.

Doctors could be prosecuted for homicide if it is found that patients had died because doctors refused to assist them when they arrived to the state institutions, explained Luis Lamas Puccio, a criminal lawyer.

Patients complain

"There are no doctors. I had an appointment today but they rescheduled it for October and now I don't know what I'm going to do," said María Notilia Sánchez, an elderly woman interviewed by El Comercio reporters.

"I have a cardiac problem which can't be operated, that's why I urgently need my medicine," explained Sánchez as she left Rebagliati Hospital.

It was reported that in Lima alone, 7,000 patients were not seen on Wednesday and that over 25,000 have not been assisted since the strike began.

While emergency rooms are operating 100 percent, hospital drug stores are closed and operations are being postponed.

According to EsSalud, the drug store in Rebagliati serves approximately 2,000 patients per day.

Furthermore, it was reported that 382 operations take place in Peru, not taking into account emergencies.