Daily coverage from across the country, written for the expat community
Research based on hospital discharge and Solca data found that skin-cancer impact is concentrated among people over 65, especially men, with Pichincha, Azuay, Loja, Guayas and Manabi highlighted in the study.
IESS says Teodoro Maldonado Carbo Hospital allocated $435,083 for medications and supplies, including antibiotics, neonatal respiratory supplies, suction hoses and Tocilizumab. For expats using IESS or watching the public system, this is a concrete supply update with named purchases and dollar amounts.
HIV patients at Quito's Carlos Andrade Marin Hospital say they have gone more than 15 days without TLD antiretroviral medication. Patient advocates estimate 1,600 HIV patients are treated at HCAM, while national health figures put Ecuador's HIV population at 52,357 people.
El Universo reports Solca Quito received more than 18,000 oncology medicines from Ecuador's Ministry of Public Health. The donation includes 17 essential medicine types and is expected to benefit 130 patients in the first half of 2026.
Ecuador's 2026 budget includes no allocation for IESS medical care, leaving the social security system with an estimated $1 billion shortfall. Medication shortages and emergency room waits of 4-8 hours are already widespread.
Ecuador offers expats affordable healthcare through both the public IESS system (~$85/month) and private providers. GP visits run $25-40, specialist visits $40-80, and an MRI costs $200-400. Here is a complete guide to navigating healthcare as a foreign resident.
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.
