Hospital Staff in Cuenca Warn of Supply and Medicine Shortages at IESS Facility

Doctors, nurses, and operational staff at the José Carrasco Arteaga Hospital in Cuenca have issued a public statement raising concerns about worsening shortages of medical supplies and medications at the facility.

The hospital, which operates under the Ecuadorian Social Security Institute (IESS), is one of the main public healthcare centers in the region. In their statement dated April 2, 2026, staff members criticized recent management claims that described a short administrative period between early February and late March as “technical” and “successful.”

According to the statement, improvements cited by hospital leadership—including upgrades to equipment, infrastructure adjustments, and automation processes—were actually initiated by previous administrations. Staff argue that attributing these developments to just two months of management is misleading.

More pressing, they say, is the current shortage of essential supplies and medicines, which they warn is affecting the hospital’s ability to respond effectively to both surgical and clinical needs. The situation, they note, has led to growing operational limitations across multiple departments.

Staff also raised concerns about administrative practices, pointing to what they describe as a lack of familiarity with healthcare regulations. They say this has resulted in procedural obstacles that complicate daily operations. Additionally, the statement criticizes a leadership approach described as overly rigid and disconnected from frontline realities.

Despite these challenges, healthcare workers emphasized that patient care continues through the dedication of medical personnel, who they say are working under increasing pressure with limited resources and strained infrastructure.

The statement concludes with a call for IESS authorities to appoint qualified technical leadership, prioritize the procurement of essential supplies, and engage more closely with frontline staff. Hospital workers stressed that their primary concern remains maintaining adequate care for patients under difficult conditions.