This Friday, Ecuador’s Vice President María José Pinto visited the Hospital de Especialidades Eugenio Espejo in Quito to oversee the arrival of essential medicines and medical devices delivered as part of an emergency response. The delivery is the first under Presidential Decree No. 133, issued by President Daniel Noboa Azin.
The hospital received 453,000 units of medication, which underwent a technical review by warehouse staff. These supplies are intended for treating cardiovascular diseases and include anticoagulants, anesthetics, dermatological products, among others.
Javier Bermúdez, Zonal Coordinator for Health in Zone 9, confirmed that this was the initial shipment: “We will continue supplying the hospital progressively to achieve the required stock,” he said. He also noted that planning is underway to receive additional supplies.
The distribution of medicines is ongoing across all nine zonal health coordinations in Ecuador and continues to reach major hospitals nationwide.
Hospital manager Carlos Veintimilla emphasized the importance of this first batch for patients: “We have a traceability plan ready with Zonal Coordination 9 to keep supplying this hospital and other healthcare facilities around the country,” he stated.
Administrative and procurement processes are proceeding according to established plans. Around 300 people across more than 50 technical committees are continuously validating technical information.
After receiving the delivery, Vice President Pinto toured several areas of the hospital alongside Deputy Minister Wendy Gavica and manager Carlos Veintimilla. They inspected improvements at the central warehouse located at the helipad site; construction there is reported to be 80% complete with an investment exceeding USD 242,000.
On another floor, officials checked on operations at the Imaging Unit. This department can perform up to 50 MRI scans daily—about 1,500 per month—and plans call for approximately 18,000 studies annually for both hospital patients and those from Ecuador’s Integrated Public Health Network (RPIS).
Authorities also visited both the clinical laboratory and a new Onco-Hematology area. During her visit there, Vice President Pinto spoke with patients and their families. Currently, about 80% of oncology medications needed at Hospital Eugenio Espejo are available.
