Ecuador’s 2008 constitution established free and universal public health services and created a comprehensive public network made up of state and social security institutions.
In 2020 public expenditure on health was 4.97% of the gross domestic product and in 2021 was 14.8% of total public expenditure. Out-of-pocket expenditure accounted for 30.6% of total current health expenditure. The sources of financing for the health sector are resources from the general state budget; contributions from workers and employers to social security; contributions from police and military schemes; direct household expenditure; and resources from donors.
