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LATIN AMERICA ADVISOR

LATIN AMERICA ADVISOR

A daily publication Of the dialogue

July 29, 2026

Why Are Ecuador’s Hospitals Facing Medicine Shortages?

Ecuador’s public health system is grappling with severe shortages of medicines. The public Hospital IESS Los Ceibos in Guayaquil is pictured. // File Photo: Pablo Jarrín via Wikimedia Commons CC BY-SA 4.0.

Q

  • Ecuadorean President Daniel Noboa on July 10 named Juan Carlos Aveiga Parra as his eighth health minister since taking office in 2023. The change came as the public health system faces a severe shortage of medicines: the Ecuadorean Medical Federation has warned of critically low supplies, with some hospitals reporting overall medicine availability of around 44 percent. The shortages have raised concerns over disruptions to treatments, including oncology care and complex medical procedures. What is behind the change at the head of the health ministry? What structural factors explain the shortage of medicines in Ecuador, and how well is the government responding? What other challenges are facing Ecuador’s health care system, and what changes would strengthen the system?

A

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The Inter-American Dialogue publishes the Latin America Advisor every business day for a distinguished membership of informed corporate leaders, scholars, and government officials invested in Latin America’s development and future. The Advisor‘s highly regarded Q&A section covers questions submitted by subscribers themselves. Commentators regularly include heads of state, business leaders, diplomats, economists, analysts, and thought leaders from around the world. Many of the world’s largest and fastest-growing companies subscribe to the Advisor. To subscribe, click here. For terms and conditions, click here. For more information, contact Gene Kuleta, editor of the Advisor, at gkuleta@thedialogue.org.
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Diego Arria
Director,
Columbus Group

Merike Blofield
Professor of Political Science,
University of Hamburg

Devry Boughner Vorwerk
CEO,
DevryBV Sustainable Strategies

Joyce Chang
Global Head of Research,
J.P. Morgan

Marlene Fernández
Corporate Vice President for Gov’t Relations,
Arcos Dorados (McDonald’s)

Peter Hakim
President Emeritus,
Inter-American Dialogue

Donna Hrinak
Director,
Adtalem Global Education

Jon E. Huenemann
Council Member,
GLG Inc.

James R. Jones
Chairman,
Monarch Global Strategies

Craig Kelly
Senior Director,
Int’l Gov’t Relations,
Exxon Mobil

Barbara Kotschwar
Professor of Political Economy,
Georgetown University

John Maisto
Director,
US Education Finance Group

Nicolas Mariscal
Chairman,
Grupo Marhnos

Thomas F. McLarty III
Chairman,
McLarty Associates

Beatrice Rangel
Director,
AMLA Consulting

Ernesto Revilla
Head of Latin American Economics, Citi

Gustavo Roosen
President,
IESA

Andrés Rozental
President, Rozental &
Asociados

Shelly Shetty
Managing Director,
Sovereigns, Fitch

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