Lambayeque, Peru – Efforts to bolster medication safety and efficacy are underway in the Lambayeque region, with recent training initiatives focused on strengthening pharmacovigilance practices at the Hospital Regional de Lambayeque. The Ministry of Health (Minsa), through the National Center for Strategic Health Resources Supply (Cenares), conducted a workshop on “Addressing Therapeutic Failure in Pharmacovigilance” for the hospital’s Pharmacovigilance and Tecnovigilance Committee. This move underscores a growing commitment to identifying and mitigating risks associated with medications, ultimately aiming to improve patient outcomes across the region.
Pharmacovigilance, a critical component of public health, involves the continuous monitoring of medicines to detect, assess, understand, and prevent adverse effects or any other drug-related problem. Therapeutic failure, a specific area of focus in these efforts, occurs when a medication doesn’t produce the expected result in a patient despite being used appropriately. Recognizing and addressing these failures promptly is crucial for adjusting treatment plans and ensuring patients receive the most effective care. The recent training builds upon a broader national strategy to enhance drug safety protocols and address longstanding challenges in medication access and quality.
Strengthening Pharmacovigilance Infrastructure in Lambayeque
The workshop, held on March 12th, brought together 15 healthcare professionals, including specialists from the Lambayeque Regional Health Management, members of the Hospital Regional de Lambayeque’s Pharmacovigilance and Tecnovigilance Committee, and representatives from the regional strategy for rare diseases. Participants refined their skills in identifying, reporting, and analyzing events linked to medication safety, according to information released by Minsa. The training specifically addressed the concept of therapeutic failure, as defined by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), which describes it as an unexpected lack of effect from a medication, potentially impacting a patient’s recovery if not identified in a timely manner.
Beyond the training itself, Cenares technical staff conducted a site visit to the hospital’s pharmacy warehouse. This inspection aimed to reinforce good practices that guarantee the quality of pharmaceutical products reaching patients. Maintaining a robust supply chain and ensuring proper storage conditions are essential elements of a comprehensive pharmacovigilance system. The focus on the pharmacy warehouse highlights a commitment to addressing potential issues at every stage of the medication delivery process.
Addressing Systemic Challenges in Medication Supply
The push for enhanced pharmacovigilance comes amidst ongoing challenges related to medication supply and funding within the Peruvian healthcare system. In October 2025, the director of the Hospital Regional Lambayeque, Dr. César Guzmán Saavedra, reported that the hospital faced a significant debt from the Integral Health Insurance (SIS) – exceeding 34 million soles – which impacted its ability to procure necessary medications and supplies. According to a press release from the hospital, despite this financial strain, patient care continued uninterrupted, with measures implemented to secure medication, supplies, laboratory services, and hospital food.
Dr. Guzmán explained that the funding shortfall stemmed from the expansion of SIS coverage in 2019, which extended benefits to the entire population without a corresponding increase in allocated resources. This discrepancy created a growing gap between the demand for healthcare services and the available funding. In 2024 alone, the hospital generated 30 million soles through FUAS (Functional Units of Attention), but SIS only transferred 20 million soles, with 10 million allocated to CENARES and the remainder to the FISAL fund. This situation led the hospital to initiate institutional purchases to compensate for delays in deliveries from CENARES, a process complicated by administrative procedures.
The Role of CENARES and Digemid
CENARES, the National Center for Strategic Health Resources Supply, plays a pivotal role in procuring and distributing medications and medical supplies throughout Peru. However, reports indicate that CENARES previously faced challenges in timely delivery, prompting the Hospital Regional Lambayeque to pursue alternative procurement methods. The recent commitment from CENARES to provide an extraordinary shipment of medications aims to alleviate shortages and ensure adequate supplies in the coming weeks.
The Dirección General de Medicamentos, Insumos y Drogas (Digemid), Peru’s national drug regulatory authority, also plays a crucial role in ensuring medication quality and safety. Digemid oversees the registration, control, and surveillance of pharmaceutical products, working in conjunction with CENARES to maintain a secure and reliable medication supply chain. In 2025, Digemid hosted a National Technical Meeting on Pharmacovigilance and Tecnovigilance, where CENARES conducted a training session with 50 participants. Recent investigations have highlighted concerns regarding the quality of certain medications procured by the state, including a significant number of defective oncological drugs, underscoring the importance of robust regulatory oversight and pharmacovigilance systems.
Expanding Pharmacovigilance Training Nationwide
The training at the Hospital Regional de Lambayeque is part of a broader initiative by Cenares to strengthen pharmacovigilance capabilities across the country. Prior to the Lambayeque workshop, Cenares conducted similar training sessions during the National Technical Meeting on Pharmacovigilance and Tecnovigilance organized by Digemid in Lima, with 50 participants, and at the Honorio Delgado-Hideyo Noguchi National Institute of Mental Health, with 12 attendees. These efforts demonstrate a sustained commitment to promoting the safe leverage of medications and protecting public health.
The focus on therapeutic failure is particularly relevant given the complexities of modern medicine and the increasing number of patients receiving multiple medications. Identifying instances where a drug is not working as expected allows healthcare providers to adjust treatment plans, explore alternative therapies, and prevent potential harm to patients. Effective pharmacovigilance systems rely on the active participation of healthcare professionals, patients, and regulatory authorities, all working together to ensure medication safety.
Key Takeaways
- Enhanced Training: Cenares is actively training healthcare professionals in Lambayeque on identifying and addressing therapeutic failures in medication.
- Supply Chain Focus: Efforts are underway to address medication supply challenges and ensure consistent access to essential drugs.
- National Initiative: The pharmacovigilance training program is being expanded nationwide, building on previous workshops in Lima and at the Honorio Delgado-Hideyo Noguchi Institute.
- Importance of Reporting: Prompt reporting of adverse events and therapeutic failures is crucial for improving medication safety.
Looking ahead, Cenares will continue to monitor the impact of these training initiatives and assess the need for further interventions. The ongoing commitment to pharmacovigilance is essential for safeguarding the health and well-being of the Peruvian population. The Ministry of Health has not yet announced specific dates for future training sessions or evaluations of the program’s effectiveness, but updates will be available on the Minsa website. We encourage readers to share their experiences with medication safety and contribute to the ongoing dialogue about improving healthcare quality in Peru.