Hundreds of nurses from Peru's Social Security system took to the streets of Lima on Tuesday to call for improvements in hospitals and patient care, as well as protesting deficiencies in hospitals and nurses' low salaries.

The National Union of Social Security Nurses (SINESSS) said that the number of nurses within the Social Security system cannot provide the level of care for insured Peruvians, and that the system is further impacted as a little under half do not pay their healthcare premiums.

SINESSS further announced that thousands have stopped working within the Social Security sector.

The protest seeks the fulfilment of pending commitments, the payment of benefits, the repair of critical equipment, and better working conditions. At the same time, in hospitals such as the Rebagliati Hospital, doctors also joined the strike, which exacerbated the impact on the care of insured persons.

The protesters have threatened a potential indefinite national strike if Social Security authorities do not engage with them for an appropriate solution.

AP Video shot by Cesar Barreto