Daily coverage from across the country, written for the expat community
Ecuador's public healthcare system is struggling with corruption investigations, specialist wait times stretching months, and chronic medication shortages. Many expats are supplementing with private insurance or paying out-of-pocket. Here's the current state of play.
The Ministry of Public Health invested in 92 laparoscopic towers for hospitals across the country, bringing minimally invasive surgery to previously underserved areas including the border town of Macará near Vilcabamba.
Ecuador has jumped to third place in the WHO's Latin America Healthcare Index, trailing only Costa Rica and Chile -- a strong validation for expats who cite affordable medical care as a top reason for relocating.
