Police hospital has only 36% of medicines available, prosecutors find

A prosecutorial inspection found that medicine availability at Peru's Luis N. Sáenz National Police Hospital stood at just 36.24%, highlighting what officials described as limited supplies of pharmaceutical products and medical devices.

The First Prosecutor's Office for Crime Prevention carried out the inspection at the hospital in Jesús María. The office said the finding confirmed information gathered earlier and pointed to a critical supply situation. The inspection involved personnel from Lima Centro's Integrated Health Networks Directorate and assistant provincial prosecutor Beatriz Martínez Peralta.

Inspectors identified problems beyond the shortage of medicines. The storage area needs continued improvements to automate its computer system and integrate all information. They also found that the air-conditioning system was not working, fire extinguishers had expired and the pharmacy lacked proper storage practices.

The inspection further noted an accumulation of solid waste, cardboard, toilets, fluorescent tubes and sacks containing construction debris in front of the oxygen plant at the former hospital. The findings added to concerns about conditions at the facility.

The hospital's complaints book included a report about the absence of RPR reagent used for syphilis testing. The prosecutor's office ordered the hospital to address the observations and submit a detailed report on the measures taken within 30 days.

The office said the preventive actions aim to help prevent offenses involving the omission of official duties, as well as crimes against life, the body and health of patients and other users.