Cuenca Mayor Cristian Zamora has officially signed a contract for the construction and equipping of the new Baños Hospital. This project, with a budget of $7.4 million, will be executed by the Baños Consortium and is expected to be completed within 360 days.

The hospital will be built on a 5,272 m² plot in Huizhil Alto. It will feature three floors, 22 beds, two operating rooms, an imaging department, an emergency area with six beds, a neonatal unit, 12 consultation rooms, a pharmacy, nursing stations, CT scanners, an auditorium, doctors’ quarters, laundry facilities, and a waste management area, among other amenities.

Mayor Zamora highlighted that this is the second of three municipal hospitals promised during his campaign, with a particular focus on improving healthcare access in rural areas. “This project bridges the gap between urban and rural communities,” he said.

The Baños Hospital will join El Valle Hospital, whose contract was signed in November and is set to begin construction soon. Meanwhile, plans for a municipal hospital in Ricaurte are progressing. This project fulfills the mayor's 8th campaign promise, further advancing his healthcare initiative for the region.

Over 10,000 cases of the Oropouche virus (OROV) have been reported globally in 2024, affecting countries like Brazil, Ecuador, and Colombia, as well as parts of Europe. Ecuador has documented two cases, both of which resulted in full recovery.

Oropouche is transmitted primarily through the bite of the biting midge Culicoides paraensis and occasionally by the mosquito Culex quinquefasciatus. Symptoms include high fever, severe headache, photophobia, and muscle/joint pain, typically resolving within 2-3 weeks. Severe cases may lead to meningitis or encephalitis.

Currently, there are no vaccines or antiviral treatments, and the virus can have a fatality rate of up to 88%.

Preventive measures include:

• Avoiding areas with high insect activity.

• Wearing protective clothing and using insect repellents.

• Removing stagnant water to reduce breeding grounds.

You are advised to follow these precautions to lower your risk of infection.

Cuenca's Mayor, Cristian Zamora, has announced the launch of an international public tender for the construction and equipping of a new hospital in El Valle, located in the southern part of the city. This will be the second municipal hospital in Cuenca, with two more to follow.

Mayor Zamora shared the news on his social media, emphasizing his commitment to improving healthcare for the people of Cuenca. "My word is always kept. The first of three hospitals is already in the bidding process. A promise for the health of thousands of Cuencanos, especially in our rural areas, where they will be built," he stated.

Zamora also highlighted the speed at which the project has progressed, noting that it took just 14 months to complete all necessary steps, including consulting studies, land preparation, planning approval, securing multilateral loans, and obtaining reports from control bodies. "This has been achieved in record time," he added.

The Hospital del Valle marks the beginning of a broader plan to expand healthcare access across Cuenca, particularly in rural areas where the new facilities will be located.

Three ambulances have been delivered to respond to emergencies in the province of Azuay. The Ministry of Health, Zone 6, made this official through an event attended by assemblyman Adrián Castro, governor Santiago Malo, and other government authorities. A total of 7 ambulances will be delivered.

The newspaper Expreso published  an interview with optical shop La Clínica del Lente in Cuenca:

The medical team of the Lens Clinic, composed of Samantha Sánchez, Pablo Sarmiento, and optometrist Nancy Ortega, clarified some questions related to visual health.

How did the idea of opening your business come about?

This business began as a workshop for frame repairs.

How would you describe the current scope of the business and its evolution?

Our business has evolved from simply providing services. Initially, the business was small and very basic, but over the years we have implemented improvements through constant training and individualized medical attention for timely treatment. We aim to provide optimal recovery for each one of our patients.

What area do you emphasize in your service offerings?

We offer a personalized service, providing high-quality products, technical, and professional advice.

What differentiates your offerings from others in the market?

Our service, especially the quality of our lenses and frames. Our work is guaranteed.

What has been your business's greatest satisfaction?

Seeing our customers satisfied with our service.

What have been the most challenging moments you've faced?

Losing one of the founders who started this business 35 years ago. Despite his passing 2 years and 6 months ago, we have not given up. We remain persistent and stronger, providing high-quality service to those in need.

If you had to indicate what your business's success is due to, what would you mention?

Persistence and the attention to those who need us.

If you compare the beginnings to the present, what has changed?

The location and space in which we attend to our patients have changed. Now we can provide more comfort to those who need our service. Additionally, we have integrated medical services to offer a complete service.

What lessons has the pandemic's difficult moments taught you as a company?

Our service was not interrupted; we worked with all precautions behind closed doors, as our service has stood out due to our good disposition towards the customer.

What are your medium- and long-term plans?

Our long-term plans are to open a complete ophthalmological center. This will cover everything from the most basic to the most complex, including eye surgeries, treatments, and disease prevention.

The newspaper El Comercio asked Martín Domínguez J., a professor at the law school of the Universidad Internacional del Ecuador, whether a hospital can detain a patient until the hospital bill is paid.

This inquiry was prompted by the death of a newborn baby in a Cuenca hospital last week. The incident unfolded as follows: A woman gave birth via C-section in a private hospital in Cuenca, a procedure that typically costs around $3,000. Due to complications, the hospital bill rose to $8,300. Unable to pay, the mother decided to transfer the baby to the local IESS hospital for further treatment. However, the private hospital refused to release the baby because the bill had not been paid. Tragically, the baby died while still in the private hospital, which then refused to release the baby's body.

According to Professor Domínguez, the hospital violated the right to freedom enshrined in Article 66 of the Constitution of the Republic of Ecuador. Clause 29 of this article states that individuals cannot be imprisoned for failing to pay financial obligations such as debts or taxes, with the exception of alimony:

(...) 29. Los derechos de libertad también incluyen: (...) c) Que ninguna persona pueda ser privada de su libertad por deudas, costas, multas, tributos, ni otras obligaciones, excepto el caso de pensiones alimenticias. (...)

Furthermore, the professor pointed out that the violation of the baby's rights is exacerbated by the fact that the baby belongs to a priority care group, as specified in Article 35 of the Constitution. This article mandates that seniors, children, adolescents, pregnant women, persons with disabilities, people deprived of liberty, and those suffering from catastrophic or highly complex illnesses are to receive priority and specialized care in both public and private sectors:

Art. 35.- Las personas adultas mayores, niñas, niños y adolescentes, mujeres embarazadas, personas con discapacidad, personas privadas de libertad y quienes adolezcan de enfermedades catastróficas o de alta complejidad, recibirán atención prioritaria y especializada en los ámbitos público y privado. (...)

Additionally, Professor Domínguez asserted that detaining a person in a hospital could be classified as the crime of kidnapping for ransom, as defined in Article 162 of the Comprehensive Organic Penal Code (COIP): 

Art. 161.- Secuestro.- La persona que prive de la libertad, retenga, oculte, arrebate o traslade a lugar distinto a una o más personas, en contra de su voluntad, será sancionada con pena privativa de libertad de cinco a siete años.

Art. 162.- Secuestro extorsivo.- Si la persona que ejecuta la conducta sancionada en el artículo 161 de este Código tiene como propósito cometer otra infracción u obtener de la o las víctimas o de terceras personas dinero, bienes, títulos, documentos, beneficios, acciones u omisiones que produzcan efectos jurídicos o que alteren de cualquier manera sus derechos a cambio de su libertad, será sancionada con pena privativa de libertad de diez a trece años. (...)

Conclusion

In Ecuador, you have the right to leave a hospital even if you haven't paid your bill. If a hospital refuses to let you go, call the police at 911 to secure your release. If you are detained, report the crime of kidnapping to the public prosecutor.

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