Ecuador awards Cayambe Hospital contract and health tech deal

President Daniel Noboa announced that the contract for the new Cayambe Hospital in Pichincha province has been awarded. The facility is expected to benefit over 140,000 affiliates, providing 24-hour emergency services, hospitalization, operating rooms, and specialized care to reduce the need for patient transfers to Quito.

Simultaneously, the government is implementing a technological platform through a contract involving the Ministry of Public Health, the National Telecommunications Corporation (CNT), and the company Dedalus. This project aims to interconnect 1,742 health establishments to centralize patient records, appointments, and medical supplies.

The Dedalus contract has faced criticism from the National Union of Educators (UNE). Concerns have been raised regarding the contract value, which reportedly exceeds USD 240 million, compared to an initial software proposal of approximately USD 117 million. Critics also pointed to simultaneous budget cuts by the Ministry of Finance in other essential health areas, such as hospital equipment and malnutrition prevention, as well as questions regarding the transparency and speed of the procurement process.