Ecuadorian renal patients protest over dialysis access and state debt

Patients with renal disease, their families, and representatives from the Frente de Pacientes Renales held simultaneous symbolic protests in Portoviejo, Quito, Guayaquil, and Babahoyo to demand continuity in dialysis treatments. In Ecuador, approximately 20,800 people require renal replacement therapy, according to the Ministry of Public Health and the patient advocacy group.

There is significant concern regarding access to care, as nine out of ten patients depend on hemodialysis, a procedure that must be performed periodically to prevent life-threatening complications. During the demonstrations, chairs were placed at protest sites to symbolize current patients, future patients, and those who have died due to systemic healthcare failures.

A primary driver of the crisis is a financial deficit, with the state's debt to clinics and dialysis centers estimated at approximately USD 400 million. This debt threatens the ability of service providers to maintain operations. Chronic kidney disease is a growing public health issue in the country, largely driven by hypertension and diabetes.