IESS HIV Patients Fear Medication Shortage as HCAM Supply Runs Low

HIV patients who depend on the IESS system are facing renewed anxiety over medication supply.

At Quito's Hospital Carlos Andrade Marin (HCAM), patient advocates say people with HIV have gone more than 15 days without receiving TLD, the antiretroviral combination of Tenofovir, Lamivudine and Dolutegravir.

The issue is serious because antiretroviral treatment is not an occasional medication. It is taken daily to keep viral load low, reduce transmission risk and prevent the illness from progressing.

What Is Known

Patient advocate Ricardo Buri, director of Grupo de Apoyo Positivo, estimates that about 1,600 HIV patients are treated at HCAM alone.

National health figures updated to 2024 estimate 52,357 people with HIV in Ecuador.

One affected patient said his last medication delivery was in February 2026 and that he expected to run out by June 14.

Private-market prices are a problem. A 30-pill bottle of TLD can cost $120 to $200, and patients described emergency borrowing or donation networks to stretch supply.

IESS Response

IESS said the medications are in customs-clearance processing and did not give an estimated arrival date.

It also said it has 67% supply coverage and purchase orders underway to increase availability.

Official data cited for HCAM showed only four of seven antiretroviral medications stocked at the hospital.

Patients from Hospital Jose Carrasco Arteaga in Cuenca and Hospital Teodoro Maldonado Carbo in Guayaquil also reported supply concerns at the end of May.

What This Means for Expats

If you rely on IESS for chronic medication, do not wait until the last few pills to ask about refills.

This story is specifically about HIV treatment, but the broader lesson applies to any long-term medication in Ecuador: keep copies of prescriptions, know the generic name, ask early about stock, and have a backup plan through a private pharmacy or specialist if your budget allows it.