Essalud reports 23-day average wait for medical appointments in Peru

An investigation into Peru's Social Health Insurance (Essalud) has revealed that the national average wait time for medical appointments in 2025 was 23 days. However, this figure masks significant regional disparities, with many areas in the country's interior experiencing delays exceeding one month.

In Lima, certain specialties such as pediatric rehabilitation reached wait times of 80 days. In regions including Tacna, Junín, Piura, and Arequipa, waits for neurosurgery, cardiovascular surgery, and traumatology consistently exceeded 40 to 60 days.

Essalud attributed these increasing delays to several systemic factors: high demand for services, a persistent shortage of medical specialists, limited hospital infrastructure, and administrative inefficiencies. Additionally, the inoperability of medical equipment and high turnover in senior management have further hindered the institution's ability to provide timely care.