De la promesa a la política de Estado: el rol del Colegio Médico del Perú en el debate presidencial 2026

This article analyzes the 2026 Presidential Health Debate, an initiative organized by the Colegio Médico del Perú (CMP) in partnership with the Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia (UPCH) and the Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos (UNMSM). The event emerged in response to the lack of prioritization of health as a central axis in the official debates of the National Jury of Elections (JNE), within a national context marked by political instability and a fragmented electoral landscape. Of the 36 registered political groups, 13 candidates attended in person to present their proposals. The parties debated six thematic axes based on the consensus of the XI National Medical Congress: strengthening primary health care, access to medicines, health system fragmentation, governance and decentralization, economics and social well-being, and human resources in health. Although a shared diagnosis of the crisis facing the health sector was evident, alongside general agreements on "what" needs reforming, there was divergence, polarization, and a lack of technical consistency regarding "how" to operationalize these proposals. Several groups relied on declarative statements rather than proposing structural reforms in governance, financing, and management. In conclusion, the debate provided a technical framework for informed voting by the citizenry, highlighting the urgent need for the incoming government to translate campaign promises into viable public policies that guarantee the population's right to health and well-being.