Alfonso López Chau, leader of the Peruvian party Ahora Nación, attacked the government’s latest health sector appointments, saying Peru needs authorities chosen by merit rather than political patronage.
López Chau, a former rector of the National University of Engineering, said on social media that Peru must reclaim the Ministry of Health and EsSalud from political quotas. He argued that posts should go to candidates with technical capacity, not personal connections.
His remarks came after the swearing-in of Luis Williams Dyer Fernández as Health Minister and Juan Carlos Gonzáles Hidalgo as Secretary General of Minsa, Peru’s health ministry.
Dyer is a businessman from the steel industry, and his appointment drew immediate criticism from health guilds and specialists who questioned his ability to tackle structural problems including overcrowded hospitals and medicine shortages. Pedro Riega López, dean of the Medical College, said Dyer has no experience in the health sector.
Gonzáles Hidalgo’s appointment also generated controversy. He is known for his family connection to César Acuña, leader of the Alianza para el Progreso party, whose niece he married. Gonzáles Hidalgo faces a prosecutor’s request for nine years in prison on charges of aggravated collusion, stemming from allegations that he directed million-dollar contracts for the Vaso de Leche program while heading the Tender Commission of the Provincial Municipality of Tumbes. He also faces a separate request for six years in prison and an investigation for dereliction of duty linked to alleged irregularities in road construction during his time as administrative manager in that municipality.
President Keiko Fujimori defended Dyer’s appointment, saying she prioritized management capabilities aimed at delivering direct results for citizens, including ensuring medications are available at clinics and hospitals, over a strictly medical background.
