Óscar Raúl Ugarte Ubilluz (born 30 October 1944) is a Peruvian physician who is the current Minister of Health under President Francisco Sagasti since 13 February 2021.[1][2] He previously held the position under President Alan García from October 2008 to July 2011.[3][4][5][6][7]

Óscar Ugarte
Minister of Health
In office
13 February 2021 – 28 July 2021
PresidentFrancisco Sagasti
Prime MinisterVioleta Bermúdez
Preceded byPilar Mazzetti
Succeeded byHernando Cevallos
In office
14 October 2008 – 28 July 2011
PresidentAlan García
Prime MinisterYehude Simon
Javier Velásquez
José Antonio Chang
Rosario Fernández
Preceded byHernán Garrido Lecca
Succeeded byAlberto Tejada Noriega
Deputy Minister of Health
In office
22 January 2002 – 4 December 2002
PresidentAlejandro Toledo
Prime MinisterRoberto Dañino
Luis Solari
Preceded byFernando Carbone Campoverde
Succeeded byCarlos Rodríguez Cervantes
Lima City Councilman
In office
1 January 1984 – 31 December 1989
Personal details
Born
Óscar Raúl Ugarte Ubilluz

(1944-10-30) October 30, 1944 (age 80)
Pucallpa, Peru
Nationality Peruvian
Political partyTogether for Peru (2017–present)
Other political
affiliations
Independent (2008–2017)
Peruvian Humanist Party (2005–2007)
ProfessionPhysician

Biography

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Born in eastern city of Pucallpa, Ugarte studied medicine at the National University of San Marcos, where he attained his medical doctor degree. Upon completing medical school, he earned a master of Public Policy from the University of Barcelona.[8]

Career

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In his professional career in the public health sector, Ugarte served as consultant for the United Nations Population Fund, and taught public health at the University of San Martín de Porres.[8]

Political career

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Briefly during the presidency of Alejandro Toledo, Ugarte served as Deputy Minister of Health from January to December 2002.[8] Subsequently, he served in advisory positions related to public health at the start of the second presidency of Alan García.

Minister of Health

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First tenure

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Following the resignation of Jorge del Castillo's cabinet in October 2008, García appointed him as Minister of Health, serving through the administration till July 2011.[9] During the 2009 outbreak of influenza A (H1N1), Ugarte announced to the country that an Argentine citizen had said virus.[10] This was later denied, as the tests were concluded without the factor N1 being confirmed.[11] The media criticized him for this fact, but President Alan García defended him and congratulated him for his pessimism regarding the statement that the virus was already in Peru.[12] After the arrival of the virus was verified, Ugarte began a national prevention campaign.

Second tenure

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Almost a decade since he left office, Ugarte was called-up to return to the government upon the resignation of Pilar Mazzetti from the Ministry of Health due to Congress promoting a vote of no confidence against her for keeping secret former president Martín Vizcarra's COVID-19 vaccination from Sinopharm Group in early September 2020, while Peruvians struggled throughout the pandemic.[13] He sworn in by President Francisco Sagasti on 13 February 2021.[14] On 14 July 2021, during a protest near the Government Palace, his vehicle was attacked by supporters of presidential candidate and Popular Force leader Keiko Fujimori.[15]

References

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  1. ^ PERU21, NOTICIAS (2021-02-13). "RENUNCIA PILAR MAZZETTI: ¿Quién es Oscar Ugarte Ubilluz, el nuevo ministro de Salud? | Coronavirus | Martín Vizcarra | Francisco Sagasti | POLITICA". Peru21 (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 2021-02-13. Retrieved 2021-02-13.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  2. ^ LR, Redacción (2021-02-12). "Óscar Ugarte jurará como ministro de Salud este sábado". larepublica.pe (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 2021-02-13. Retrieved 2021-02-13.
  3. ^ "Government website". Archived from the original on January 24, 2007.
  4. ^ "CIA World Leaders". Archived from the original on 2011-11-19. Retrieved 2011-05-13.
  5. ^ étrangères, Ministère de l'Europe et des Affaires. "Composition du gouvernement". France Diplomatie – Ministère de l'Europe et des Affaires étrangères. Archived from the original on 2019-12-21. Retrieved 2021-10-23.
  6. ^ "USAID Peru government". Archived from the original on October 18, 2011.
  7. ^ "New Health Minister". Archived from the original on 2012-10-01. Retrieved 2011-05-07.
  8. ^ a b c "Óscar Ugarte Ubilluz Currículum Vitae" (PDF). paho.org (in Spanish). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2021-02-13. Retrieved 2021-02-13.
  9. ^ Ministerio de Salud, Nota de Prensa. "Nombran ministro de Estado en el despacho de Salud al Dr. Óscar Ugarte Ubilluz". gob.pe (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 2021-02-13. Retrieved 2021-02-13.
  10. ^ "Ugarte se rectifica y asegura que ciudadana argentina no tiene gripe porcina | LaRepublica.pe". 2014-08-29. Archived from the original on 2014-08-29. Retrieved 2021-05-28.
  11. ^ "Minsa descarta que ciudadana argentina padezca de la gripe porcina | RPP NOTICIAS". 2009-05-03. Archived from the original on 2009-05-03. Retrieved 2021-05-28.
  12. ^ Espinoza, Angela (2009-05-01). "Alan García felicita a ministro Ugarte por pesimismo ante virus AH1N1". RPP (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 2021-01-16. Retrieved 2021-05-28.
  13. ^ Gestión, Redacción (13 February 2021). "Pilar Mazzetti renunció al Ministerio de Salud". gestion.pe (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 2021-02-13. Retrieved 2021-02-13.
  14. ^ El Comercio, Redacción (13 February 2021). "Óscar Ugarte juró como nuevo ministro de Salud tras renuncia de Pilar Mazzetti". elcomercio.pe (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 2021-02-13. Retrieved 2021-02-13.
  15. ^ "Fuerza Popular: Simpatizantes fujimoristas se enfrentaron a la Policía para llegar a Palacio de Gobierno". 14 July 2021. Archived from the original on 15 July 2021. Retrieved 7 August 2021.
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