Janet O. Says:
I’m interested in Ecuador for the low cost of living. But I worry about access to healthcare in a developing country. Can I get quality treatment? And is it expensive?
IL Executive Editor Jennifer Stevens Says:
Hi Janet,
Although Ecuador is a developing country, you will find first-rate medical care there, particularly in the major cities. Many doctors are educated in the U.S., Europe, Argentina, Chile, and Cuba and continue to train around the world.
In many respects, the medical system is reminiscent of that in the U.S. in the 1950s or 1960s. House calls are still possible, most doctors do not have nurses, and the average office visit is 30 to 45 minutes.
Another throwback is that Ecuadorian doctors don’t expect to become instant millionaires, and the average income for doctors working in the private system is about $65,000 to $80,000 a year. In the public IESS system, salaries are substantially lower, with doctors typically making around $48,000 (including benefits).
Asa for costs, a visit to a general practitioner costs $30 to $35, while a visit to a specialist runs anywhere from $40 to $80. For follow-up visits there is usually no charge at all.
A psychiatrist will charge $30 to $50 for a half-hour session.
Simple, ambulatory procedures are equally inexpensive and diagnostic imaging is incredibly affordable. For example, an MRI scan of the head and neck, with same-day results, costs just $240 at a private hospital.
Brand-name medicines usually cost less than in the U.S. Generic medicines which are widely available, are also much cheaper.
You can read much more about healthcare in Ecuador in our Escape to Ecuador guidebook, available on the IL Bookstore.
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