COVID-19 pandemic response in South American countries: lessons learned and recommendations for health strengthening.

The COVID-19 pandemic represented the greatest health and public management challenge of the 21st century for health systems in South America. Peru was one of the countries with the highest mortality rates globally during 2020 and 2021, a situation that evidenced deep structural gaps in its health system. This special article synthesizes the available scientific evidence on the response and lessons learned in South American countries facing the pandemic, based on a literature review published between 2020 and February 2025. It analyzes non-pharmacological interventions, the functioning of health services, the fight against the infodemic, social support, the use of telehealth, vaccination campaigns, and the innovations applied. Responses varied significantly among countries in terms of timeliness, scope, and effectiveness, allowing for the identification of key areas of intervention and replicable good practices. Among the most relevant lessons, the highlights include the need to strengthen critical health infrastructure, institutionalize telehealth, actively combat the infodemic, and promote research and innovation as strategic components of the response.