The government of President Daniel Noboa has received the first batch of medicines purchased through an electronic catalog, with an investment of USD 31.6 million. The initiative is part of a centralized procurement process for 2026, aimed at ensuring sufficient medicine stocks in health facilities across Ecuador.
More than 12.2 million units have been delivered to the Ministry of Public Health’s (MSP) warehouses. These medicines are stored under strict security and quality standards, including cold chain processes for some items at the National Vaccine Bank in northern Quito.
This initial purchase consists of 242 items intended for treating chronic diseases, cancer, pain relief, sedation, anesthesia, immunosuppression, and other medical needs.
Stalin Andino, Vice Minister of Comprehensive Health Care, stated that the government responded quickly within the established timeline. “We are in the first phase of centralization during the first half of the year. We will buy 654 medicines, of which 242 have already been acquired through the electronic catalog,” Andino confirmed.
He also said that he oversees each delivery with technical and administrative teams to ensure transparency and honesty. Distribution to hospitals and prioritized health centers in provinces such as Guayas, Loja, Pichincha, and Azuay will begin next week.
The centralized procurement for 2026 includes several processes for medicines and strategic goods. These methods are published on the MSP website and include Electronic Catalogs, Centralized Procurement, Electronic Reverse Auctions, Minor Quantities, and Centralized Strategic Goods Purchasing.
María José Buenaventura, coordinator for Internal Management of Goods, Assets and Warehouses at MSP, said that logistics and planning were organized in advance to supply Decentralized Operational Entities (EODs). More than 200 people are involved in this response team—administrative staff, drivers, and pharmaceutical biochemists. “We work to bring services closer to the population in coordination with technical and operational teams from administrative management,” she said.
Paola Tamayo from MSP’s Directorate of Supply for Medicines and Medical Devices emphasized the institution’s responsibility to verify legal compliance. “We are the first safety filter in the supply chain; we evaluate package integrity and confirm manufacturing and expiration dates,” she said.
The government and MSP say they are working together to strengthen medicine supply processes so that each patient receives timely treatment when needed.
