Ecuador — Healthcare: Public Healthcare

Why this matters

Relocating individuals should be aware of the public healthcare system's limitations and potential requirements for private health insurance.

Key facts

• Current health expenditure: 7.6 % of GDP (2023)
• Government share of current health expenditure: 62 % (2023)
• Out-of-pocket share of current health expenditure: 31 % (2023)
• Physicians: 2.3 per 1,000 people (2020)
• Hospital beds: 1.3 per 1,000 people (2023)
• Life expectancy at birth: 77.6 years (2024)

Steps

1. Registering with the Public Healthcare System — To register with SUS, foreigners may need to provide proof of residence, identification, and health insurance. The specific requirements can vary by province and municipality.

Costs

• SUS registration fee: varies by municipality
• Private health insurance: €200-€1,000 per year or more, depending on the policy and provider

Timelines

• SUS registration: 1-3 days or more, depending on the municipality and availability of documentation

Required documents

• Valid passport
• Proof of residence (e.g. utility bill, lease agreement)
• Proof of health insurance (e.g. private policy, proof of payment for SUS registration fee)

Common mistakes

• Assuming that SUS is free for all foreigners
• Not researching the specific requirements for the province and municipality where they will be living

What these figures do not cover

These are national statistics. Who is eligible for the public system, how a foreign resident enrols, what it costs and waiting times are not covered here.