Objective

To analyze the organizational management of primary health care (APS, by its initials in Spanish) during the COVID-19 pandemic in the Puno regional health system.

Methods

The methodological design adopted is phenomenology within the framework of the qualitative research paradigm. A theoretical sampling was carried out in addition to the intentional and convenience sampling, identifying actors with decision-making capacity in the health services management process at the different levels of care: director of the Health Regional Directorate (DIRESA, by its initials in Spanish), executive directors of the 11 health networks, two hospital directors, and two heads of health centers. The qualitative data collection has been based on semi-structured interviews, focus groups, and documentary reviews, the results of which were analyzed and interpreted based on the human talent management approach, the theory of organizational behavior, and the APS paradigm.

Results

Organizational management of APS in Puno involves addressing six emerging analysis subcategories: unfavorable organizational culture and climate; centralization and prioritization of curative and recuperative medicine; organizational anarchy in the regional health system (poor rectory); institutional and organizational instability; politicization of the health system, and deficiencies in the training of health professionals.

Conclusions

An adequate human talent management of people in health will contribute significantly to the renewed organizational management of the regional and national health system based on a unified and complementary model between APS and curative and recuperative medicine.