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Healthcare infrastructures in Ecuador: Challenges, reflections and opportunities for digital health

Abstract:

Besides the efforts of the Ecuadorian government in the last decade to improve the healthcare infrastructure, it still falls short to meet the healthcare needs of its population and remains far away from providing equal access to healthcare services. Based on a visit to an itinerant health point in a rural community and research conducted in public and private hospitals, this paper presents a number of infrastructural challenges that impact the everyday caring experiences of patients and healthcare professional's work practices. Reflecting on these challenges, we discuss some opportunities for future design of digital health tools and services in the Ecuadorian context.