Health Care in Cuenca
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Hospital del Rio in Cuenca
Hola everyone, May 2010
We believe that health care in Ecuador is of the highest standard. But this Newsletter will cover Cuenca where we live as expats.
Recently we had the pleasure of being given a five hour tour of the new Hospital del Rio. In this Newsletter I will only just touch on the features and benefits of this hospital as there is so much to cover that I will be dedicating a whole Newsletter to it very soon. So stay tuned!!
So let’s start with what it is like to go and see a General Practitioner. Your appointment may well go on for an hour, depending on what your requirements are. There is no clock watching and the time you are in with the GP is your time. The fee for this can range from $20-30.
In the circumstance that you may need to be referred onto a Specialist then you will usually see them on the same day. None of this go home and call to make an appointment, which you hope and pray will be the same week or at least the same month, even if you feel like you are dying and beg them to have an earlier appointment. Then by the time you go for the appointment you have to think exactly what was it I am here for again. Ok so you weren’t dying. Now please don’t take offence to some of my comments if you are in the medical profession………….but I am sure the majority of readers know exactly what I mean. Unfortunately our system, and I am talking about Australia, hand balls us to the next person and hopes that they will deal with it and that you won’t come back and bother them.
Not here. You are treated as a valuable part of society. You are after all a human being in need. We have had first hand experience and know others that also have had the same experience. The service has been absolutely fantastic. In some cases there was a language barrier, but they soon fixed that by getting someone to translate for us. Nothing was too much of a problem. The fee for a Specialist visit is around $30-$40.
Private room in Hospital del Rio
Minor procedures are also inexpensive and the larger operations dramatically cheaper compared to prices at home. There are a few expats who we know of that have had quite critical operations here in Cuenca and have praised the standard of treatment that they received
This is the new intensive care ward in Hospital del Rio
Just the other day I had several blood tests done. The price for the tests was $30. The results were then emailed to the Doctor by the end of the afternoon. He rang and advised that I could come back so that he could give me the results. I returned the next morning for another visit and at the end of this session was told that there was no charge. Now that would not happen back home at all. I have now witnessed this several times for myself and for John. There are many English speaking Practitioners here in Cuenca as many study abroad and then come home to practice. You will always find that everyone is very helpful indeed.
Alternative health care is very acceptable and most General Practitioners are very much in favor of using natural medicines along with pharmaceuticals. Here we don’t have the regulations like the USA FDA or for us in Australia the TGA.
Dental procedures are also very good and inexpensive compared to what we are used to. You can check out more re Dental HERE
Francisco Heredias Dental practice in Cuenca. While you are in the chair you can enjoy the view of the Cajas (National Park).
All the medical facilities that we have visited have been super clean and extremely modern.
Above is the building where Francisco Heredia has is rooms. This building houses many different Consultants for all your needs.
Health Insurance in Ecuador is very cheap compared to western countries. One company in South America will pay up to 80% of your Doctor’s visit and 60% on medication costs and the pay 100% hospitalization. In many cases you can ask for extra cover for other procedures.
Below are several South American, Ecuador and international Health Insurance sites. Please make sure you read them to find out how they can suit your needs.
Some expats like us do not have insurance cover. At present we have paid for everything as required. But in the future and definitely before the age of 65 respectively we shall inquire further into getting our own Health Insurance policies. That's about all I have for you at present and if any of you who are reading this and already live here in Cuenca please feel free to share your experience with us.
To read our own experience with John’s hospital visit last year Click Here
Chao for now
Dixie
http://www.squaremouth.com/
http://www.worldtrips.com/index.asp
http://www.panamericanlife.com/about/ecuador.aspx
http://www.saludsa.com/
http://www.humana.com.ec/
http://www.bupalatinamerica.com/?lang=en
