Breaking news, politics, economy, visas, safety, and lifestyle updates for expats living in Ecuador.
Ecuador says its plan to buy medicines from India is now in Arcsa homologation, with a roadmap defined with India’s government. The plan matters for expats because medicine access, pharmacy prices, and public-health procurement all show up in everyday life.
Hospitals and health centers in Ecuador will begin using the WHO’s CIE-11 system for diseases, diagnoses, and medical conditions. The goal is more uniform records across the health network.
President Daniel Noboa appointed Juan Carlos Aveiga Parra as Minister of Public Health on July 10, replacing Jaime Bernabé. The change comes as medicine shortages remain one of the public health system’s major unresolved issues.
Private health insurance continues to grow in Ecuador, with more than 1.7 million people covered and health insurance premiums reaching USD 180.5 million in 2025.
Ecuador’s social security system had 3.6 million active affiliates as of May 2026, up more than 102,000 from a year earlier. The useful part for expats is understanding the difference between dependent, independent, voluntary, domestic-work, and youth affiliation.
At least 460 hospitals and health centers are located in Ecuador parishes under yellow alert for El Nino. Most are small health centers, and the risk list is concentrated heavily in Manabi and Guayas.
IESS transferred more than $63 million to 195 private health providers in June 2026, with Azuay, Guayas and Pichincha among the provinces highlighted. The payments are part of more than $616 million sent to external providers since December 2025.
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.
