Yungay Hospital Faces Scrutiny Over Deficiencies and Economic Impact

The Yungay Support Hospital in Áncash, Peru, is under investigation following reports of technical-administrative deficiencies, staffing shortages, and non-compliance with health standards. A recent audit by the Comptroller General of the Republic has revealed issues impacting the quality of care for over 55,000 residents in the Yungay province and surrounding areas. Simultaneously, a separate investigation has identified a potential economic prejudice of over S/ 2.5 million (approximately $685,000 USD) in the hospital’s construction.

Audit Findings: Staffing and Equipment Concerns

An inspection conducted on February 18, 2026, revealed critical staffing gaps. The on-duty physician lacked the required specialization in internal medicine or emergency and disaster medicine, as mandated by regulations. Specialists in obstetrics, gynecology, and surgery were found to have abandoned their posts without proper authorization or notification to the chief of duty. The audit also noted the absence of representation from the National Police of Peru, admission staff, or social workers during the inspection.

Significant concerns were raised regarding the maintenance of biomedical equipment across multiple departments, including medicine, gynecology, obstetrics, surgery, pediatrics, observation rooms, intensive care units, triage, and diagnostic imaging. Maintenance records were reportedly unavailable, violating established health regulations.

Emergency Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Practices

The emergency pharmacy at the Yungay Support Hospital lacks the necessary health authorization for operation, a prerequisite for obtaining an operating license from local governments. This suggests the service has not undergone inspection by the National Health Authority to ensure compliance with legal requirements.

Within the hospital pharmacy, auditors found outdated record books for narcotics, psychotropic medications, and incident reporting, as required by pharmaceutical laws. Staff were observed failing to adhere to proper storage and dispensing practices, with medications stored improperly – on the floor, against walls, and in refrigerators without temperature control records.

Radiology Department Lacks Licensing and Quality Control

The conventional digital Radiology Room operates without a license, a document required before commencing activities and issued by the Technical Office of the National Authority of the Peruvian Institute of Nuclear Energy. Both stationary and mobile X-ray equipment lack quality control measures, potentially endangering patients, personnel, and the environment due to radiation exposure.

Construction Costs Under Scrutiny

A separate audit, detailed in Report No. 25674-2025-CG/MPROY-AC, has identified a potential economic prejudice of S/ 2,504,725 (approximately $685,000 USD) related to the construction of the Yungay II-I Support Hospital. The prejudice stems from the recognition and payment of compensable events and the contracting of consultancy services to rectify design flaws that should have been the responsibility of the original contractor, not the National Infrastructure Authority (ANIN). The project was executed under a government-to-government agreement, with the engineering and construction contract signed in February 2021.

The audit revealed that the contractor sub-contracted design review services in 2023 and 2024 to address issues with the seismic isolation system, with the ANIN covering the costs despite contractual obligations for the contractor to bear such expenses. The contractor repeatedly expanded the scope of a consultancy contract to address design queries, exceeding the initially allocated budget.

Ongoing Oversight

The Institutional Control Body (OCI) of the Regional Health Directorate of Áncash prepared the control report, communicating the findings to the director of the Yungay Support Hospital on March 4, 2026, to facilitate corrective actions. The report is publicly accessible through the Comptroller General’s Control Report Search.