Articles

Cuenca marked 469 years since its founding with the traditional Sesión Solemne at the Salón de la Ciudad on April 12, 2026. Mayor Cristian Zamora's centerpiece: turn Cuenca into a regional public health hub built on municipal hospitals that double as research centers.

Doctors, nurses, and staff at Cuenca's main IESS hospital issued a public statement this week warning of worsening shortages of medicines and surgical supplies. If you depend on IESS for healthcare, here's what's happening and what you can do.

Two-month-old twins from a remote Shuar community in Morona Santiago are fighting for their lives in separate Cuenca hospitals after a three-day journey on foot just to reach medical care. Their story highlights the healthcare gap facing Ecuador's indigenous communities.

President Noboa was in Cuenca March 31-April 1, announcing a national free vocational training program with 90,000 slots, $9.5 million for rural health clinics, and $169 million in road improvements. He also mentioned 29,000 young people already employed in Azuay. Here's what matters for expats.

The $8 million municipal hospital in El Valle opened on February 2 and has already treated more than 7,800 patients, handled 900+ emergencies, and performed roughly 100 surgeries. It serves five parishes and over 78,000 residents — and two more municipal hospitals are on the way.

Great news if you've been procrastinating on renewing your cédula or getting a passport: Registro Civil has extended walk-in service (no online appointment needed) through July 31, 2026. Just show up, pay, and get it done — including at Cuenca's San Blas agency, where passports are ready in about 30 minutes.

A national gathering of traditional midwives and healers took place March 20-22 at Cuenca's Museum of Modern Art. They're drafting a document to influence public policy on ancestral medicine — and it's a fascinating intersection of ancient knowledge and modern advocacy.

A new bilingual website called Destino Salud Cuenca connects patients with 25 local clinics for dental, surgery, fertility, and more. It officially launched March 13 at Teatro Sucre — and it could change how expats coordinate care for visiting friends and family.

Which hospital do you go to in an emergency in Cuenca? How much does the ER cost? A quick reference guide to Cuenca's hospitals, clinics, and emergency services for expats.