Can a family member stay with you while you are in hospital in Peru?

There is no general law on hospital companions

Many people assume the law lets a relative stay with you while you are admitted. We found no rule that says this for every hospital and clinic in Peru. We checked the regulation on patients’ rights, the law on older persons and the law on persons with disabilities. None of them has a rule on companions during a hospital stay.

What does exist are two separate pieces: a new resolution that covers EsSalud only, and a general right for exams and surgery.

EsSalud: a September 2026 resolution

On 19 September 2026 the Ministry of Labour and Employment Promotion published Resolución Ministerial 300-2026-TR. Article 2 says:

“EsSalud establece y regula el acompañamiento al paciente hospitalizado en sus IPRESS, por parte de un familiar directo o persona de su elección, durante su estancia hospitalaria, en cumplimiento de las normas, directivas, lineamientos o protocolos dictados por el Ministerio de Salud en el ejercicio de su rectoría.”

(EsSalud sets up and regulates companionship for patients admitted to its facilities, by a close relative or a person of the patient’s choice, during the hospital stay, following the Ministry of Health’s rules and protocols.)

Three points matter:

• It covers EsSalud only. It refers to EsSalud’s IPRESS, meaning its hospitals and health centres. It does not cover MINSA or regional government hospitals, or private clinics.
• The companion can be a close relative or someone you choose. They do not have to be family.
• The practical rules are still missing. Article 3 orders EsSalud to issue implementing rules; see «Possible changes ahead» below.

In its recitals, the Ministry explains its reasoning:

“Que, en el marco de las referidas normas, el paciente hospitalizado tiene derecho a estar acompañado por un familiar o persona de confianza, porque favorece su bienestar emocional, acelera su recuperación y garantiza una atención más humana y segura;”

(Hospitalised patients have a right to be accompanied by a relative or trusted person, because it supports their emotional wellbeing, speeds recovery and makes care more humane and safe.)

That paragraph is the justification, not an article. The binding part for EsSalud is article 2. Even so, it helps back up your request if you are admitted at EsSalud.

At an exam or surgery: you can authorise someone, with conditions

In every health facility, article 22 of the regulation of Ley 29414 (D.S. 027-2015-SA) applies:

“Toda persona usuaria de los servicios de salud, tiene derecho a autorizar que estén presentes en sus exámenes médicos o intervención quirúrgica, personas que no estén implicadas directamente en la atención médica. La participación deberá contar necesariamente con la previa aprobación del médico tratante, registrándolo en la historia clínica, siempre que no signifique incremento de riesgo para el paciente y se observen las prácticas de bioseguridad, caso contrario se revoca dicha aprobación. El paciente asumirá los costos derivados de dicha participación.”

(Patients may authorise people not involved in their care to be present at their medical exams or surgery. The treating doctor must approve it in advance and record it in the medical record, provided it adds no risk and biosafety rules are followed; otherwise approval is withdrawn. The patient pays any resulting costs.)

In practice:

This article is about exams and surgery. It does not say who can stay in your room for days.

Children and people who cannot decide

Article 22 ends by saying that for “menores de edad o de personas cuyas condiciones particulares le impidan ejercer este derecho por sí mismos” (minors or people who cannot exercise this right themselves), article 5 of the regulation applies. Article 5 says “los menores de edad serán representados por quienes ejerzan la patria potestad y tutela” (minors are represented by whoever holds parental authority or guardianship).

That tells you who decides for the child. We found no rule that requires every hospital to let a parent stay with a child for the whole admission. If your child is admitted at EsSalud, Resolución Ministerial 300-2026-TR covers them too. For medical decisions about a child, see how far parental authority goes.

Older persons and persons with disabilities

The texts we reviewed of the law on older persons and the law on persons with disabilities contain no rule on hospital companions. The general rights of older persons are on what Law 30490 actually guarantees.

Childbirth has its own rules

During labour, MINSA’s technical norm on vertical birth provides for a companion chosen by the pregnant woman. We explain it, and its limits, in respectful childbirth and obstetric violence.

What to do if you are refused

Ask for the reason. At EsSalud, cite Resolución Ministerial 300-2026-TR. If the reason is clinical risk or biosafety, the rule allows it. If you think your right was breached, you can complain to the facility and then to SUSALUD: see patient complaints to SUSALUD. Your other rights as a patient are on informed consent and medical records.

What this page does not cover

We do not cover each hospital’s or clinic’s internal visiting rules, or the rules EsSalud will issue to apply the resolution, which we had not found published. We also do not cover companions in intensive care, isolation for infectious diseases or mental health wards, or the Código de los Niños y Adolescentes, which we did not fully review on this point.