The Minister of Health denounced structural corruption in public hospitals.

The new Minister of Health, Juan Bernardo Sánchez, reported the existence of a structural corruption network within Ecuador's public hospitals. In his first interview since taking office, he stated that this chain extends from warehouse managers to those who handle public procurement.

Sánchez was appointed by President Daniel Noboa on May 27, and since then he has made the fight against entrenched corrupt practices in the health system a top priority. According to his explanation, this is not an isolated problem, but rather a structure that has operated for years with total impunity.

The minister explained that corruption is present throughout the entire process of acquiring and distributing medicines, devices, and services. Although he avoided giving names for security reasons, he stated that the system's critical points have already been identified, and that multisectoral strategies are underway to clean up the sector.

One of the greatest advances has been the settlement of accumulated debts with health providers dating back more than a decade. "We've recently paid USD 25 million and settled all debts prior to 2020," Sánchez said, highlighting the joint work with the Ministry of Finance.

Regarding supply, he stated that the system keeps 80% coverage in medications, but acknowledged that there are failures in direct delivery to patients. "It's unacceptable for citizens to have to buy medicines when warehouses are stocked," he emphasized, noting that measures are already being taken to correct these deficiencies.

Finally, he announced that one of the priority projects will be the construction of an oncology tower at Hospital Eugenio Espejo, in Quito. This project, scheduled for 2028, will address a national need in oncology and will consolidate the country's specialized services.

Noboa's administration has firmly taken on the challenge of cleaning up the health system. The minister's message is clear: this is not about speeches, but about actions. Bold decisions are being made to eliminate sources of corruption and strengthen access to dignified and efficient medical services for all Ecuadorians.