The Guayaquil Clinic, located in central Guayaquil, has halted the reception of patients for surgical procedures and referrals due to a significant outstanding debt of over $12 million owed by the Ecuadorian Ministry of Public Health (MSP). This decision was made effective immediately, as the clinic can no longer financially sustain its operations under the terms of their agreement, which was initiated in 2012. Previous payments from the MSP had ceased, with the last payments covering services rendered until May 2025, but the failure to address long-standing debts, some dating back to 2016, has forced the clinic into this difficult position.

Despite the formal termination of their working agreement, the clinic's management has expressed their ongoing frustration regarding the financial backing from the government. In February, the Ministry of Health had requested a separate invoice amounting to $1.4 million, which remains unpaid, thereby exacerbating the financial strain that the clinic is under. With no clear timeline or assurances for payment from the government, the clinic is left in a precarious position and is unable to continue servicing patients forwarded from the public health system.

Dr. Roberto Gilbert Febres-Cordero, the legal representative of the Guayaquil Clinic, articulated that the financial realities have made it impossible to keep the clinic operational in light of the MSP's non-compliance with payment obligations. This situation raises serious concerns regarding the sustainability of healthcare services in Ecuador, particularly for patients reliant on these facilities for critical medical interventions. As other healthcare providers may face similar challenges, the broader implications threaten the stability of the overall healthcare landscape in the country.