The worst moments that Peruvian science experienced in 2021

Science has never been as essential in decision making as it is now. The approval of the emergency use of a vaccine, the application of booster doses, the acquisition of diagnostic tests, all must be based on scientific evidence. However, today’s count is not about the good that has been achieved thanks to this knowledge in 2021, but about the events that have most affected the development and perception of the science In our country.

A key element has been poor communication. For the scientific popularizer Alejandra Ruiz León, this year has been marked by confusion. “The strategy was adopted that if I don’t convince them, I’d better confuse them, But even the scientific community has also promoted this confusion ”, points out.

–’Vccunagate’–

In early 2021, it was revealed that a large group of people, including officials and scientific researchers, received dose of ‘courtesy’ of the vaccine against COVID-19 from the Chinese company Sinopharm, when it was being evaluated through a clinical trial.

Total, .

As the magazine mentions “The Lancet”, The criticism is not only in the fact that the political elite received the vaccine first, but also in the bad practice of the universities that carried out the clinical trial of the product, since they allowed it to be administered before having the final clinical approval.

“. In addition, this fact involved specialists who developed the scientific integrity courses that every researcher must take to obtain this classification in the National Council of Science, Technology and Technological Innovation (Concytec)”, said to Trade Percy Mayta-Tristán, Director of Project Management at the Southern Scientific University.

-Chlorine dioxide-

In May, Congress approved the creation of a commission to investigate the effects of chlorine dioxide on living things, as well as in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.

These types of products and their derivatives are used to disinfect inanimate surfaces. However, during the pandemic they have been touted as an effective treatment for COVID-19.

Its therapeutic use has been discouraged by several international entities. For example, which would cause a variety of adverse effects; Furthermore, to date there is no scientific evidence on its effectiveness.

Despite criticism from specialists, Congress created the investigative commission. And after months of work, this group concluded that.

–Budget and funds–

“Resources are needed to make and let’s move forward in closing the gaps towards technological independence in the face of new pandemics. To achieve this, we also need laboratories with high levels of biosafety, improve the approval mechanisms for drugs and medical devices, and simplify the regulations and administrative processes that hinder scientific progress “, underlines Fabiola León-Velarde, former president of Concytec.

President Pedro Castillo has maintained that his government will promote science in Peru. However, the research budget has been reduced by more than 20%. According to the public sector budget law for fiscal year 2022,.

“The budget for scientific research is lower compared to 2021, and this had already been reduced compared to the previous year; In other words, it is on the decline, despite the fact that our investment in science is one of the lowest in the region. We are really bad. ”, says Rodolfo Salas-Gismondi, researcher at the Biogeosciences Laboratory of the Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia.

Between 2017 and 2021, public investment projects were developed partially financed with loans from the world Bank and from BID, for a total of 330 million soles, which were administered by Concytec and the Ministry of Production and which helped to develop research projects.

For the period 2022-2026, new resources from the State and from those two banks have been managed, through an amount of 250 million dollars. However, these funds are still insufficient.

“Due to limited resources, , and a good number of projects remain without financing that would also deserve support “, Benjamin Marticorena, president of Concytec, told El Comercio.

–Laws and a promised ministry–

At the beginning of 2019, the Law for the Promotion of the Development of Scientific Researchers, which aims to promote and recognize the work of these specialists. But, what affects the approximately 5,000 researchers registered with Concytec, indicates León-Velarde.

For her part, Gisella Orjeda, vice president of the National Academy of Sciences and former president of Concytec, indicates that the recent Law of the National System of Science, Technology and Innovation (Sinacti), enacted this year, divides the country’s science, technology and innovation system in two, isolating elements that must be closely coordinated.

“A clear example that this law does not improve coordination with the highest level of the state is that . Said report has not even been discussed outside the commission to examine the possibilities of taking it into account in this important public policy “, he emphasizes.

Likewise, the current Government announced the creation of a Ministry of Science. And although President Castillo assured that he has been promoting this issue from various fronts, there is no detailed information on the matter.

“The issue of the Ministry of Science came to nothing. It is not that I am in favor of the creation of a Ministry of Science, but . I think that if a Ministry of Science is created, universities should be included in it “Salas-Gismondi points out.

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