Mandatory requirement of social health service in Peru: discriminatory and unconstitutional

Abstract

The rural and urban-edge health service (SERUMS) is an activity that only health professionals perform for the Peruvian government, as it is a mandatory requirement to qualify for a second specialty or to work in public hospitals and public health care facilities, and obtain government scholarships for future training. The few legal changes in the rules of this social program and the focus of “service” restricted to health professionals lead to a perception of this policy as discriminatory and unconstitutional because it violates the right to education and work. There is no scientific evidence that supports the usefulness and effectiveness of this program in terms of quality of service and health indicator improvement, as well as in adequate distribution and retention of health professionals. We suggest to abolish the compulsory requirement and to reformulate a political strategy to help attract and retain health professionals in vulnerable areas of Peru.