Daily coverage from across the country, written for the expat community
Results for “medication shortage”Clear
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.
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 and Colombia have imposed 50% tariffs on each other's imports in an escalating trade war that puts $2.8 billion in bilateral trade at risk. Colombia has also suspended electricity exports and raised pipeline fees by 900%.
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.
