Security & Strategic Review - June 2026

Ecuador’s health system is in crisis, with the country facing shortages of medicines and having cycled through seven health ministers since President Daniel Noboa took office in November 2023. In his state of the nation address on 24 May, Noboa said that an agreement with India would soon open the doors to a “great purchase” of medicines. This cannot come soon enough. As well as being felt in public hospitals, the shortages are now also spreading to health centres which are focused on treating less serious conditions.