Health Care

There is a social security system here that provides health care to anyone who has residency. However, the Social Security hospitals are so crowded and busy that few expatriates use them. To get an appointment with a doctor at a Social Security hospital, people come at four in the morning to stand in line. There are a number of fine private hospitals where you can get almost any service required. Many of the doctors have trained in the US or Europe. Doctor visits are inexpensive at $20-30. After being accustomed to the long forms of health information required when you visit a doctor in the US, it is a little confusing when a doctor in Ecuador just asks a few questions and keeps no notes. But, they are thorough and spend a long time with you not the few minutes spent by doctors in the US. There are health plans but they are notorious for not paying claims presented to them. Most of us don’t subscribe to health plans but prefer to pay-as-we-go. Medicines are cheap compared to the US. Pharmacies dispense antibiotics and many other medicines after you describe your symptoms. Almost everything but narcotics can be obtained without a prescription. Vitamins and over the counter medicines are available but not all you are familiar with. Bring what you need in large quantities of items like Nyquil or laxatives. Then you will have enough until you discover whether your medication is available or not. We have ordered on line and had items we cannot find here sent via the mail but it is quite an expensive way to go. It is often better to find a locally made medication that will substitute for the one you have been using.