The Ministry of Public Health accredited six new members to the Fifth Sectoral Citizen Health Council during a ceremony held at the Catholic University of Santiago de Guayaquil on March 10. The event marked a step toward greater social participation in health policy, with officials describing the council as an important link between state policies and community needs.
The initiative aims to strengthen collaboration between civil society and public institutions in order to improve healthcare services. Gabriela Merino, Zonal Coordinator 8, said that integrating civil society not only strengthens institutional coordination but also humanizes service delivery. “Citizen commitment allows us to promote actions that originate from within communities and directly benefit them,” Merino said.
The council is composed of representatives from 25 civil society organizations across nine regions. Its main functions include serving as a forum for dialogue and consultation between the government and citizens, monitoring and evaluating public health policies, and providing technical proposals for new strategies.
“Our emphasis is on making visible the real needs of people. We represent the community directly and now have a formal channel for national dialogue,” Guillermo Leones said after receiving his accreditation.
During the ceremony, ministry officials reaffirmed their commitment to provide technical support and resources so that the council can operate independently and effectively. Rogelio Echeverría, National Director of Health Promotion, called on system authorities—including managers and zonal directors—to maintain open-door policies. “Strengthening the system is built from the ground up. We must listen, understand, and work together with our community monitors and local committees,” Echeverría said.
With this formalization process, the Ministry seeks to move beyond hospital management toward more open and transparent governance in health care. The goal is for citizens to become active participants in building an inclusive health system.
