Program “Healthy Ecuador, I am back for you”

In recent years, the Ecuadorian government has had an agenda with focus on the return of intellectuals and highly trained nationals who emigrated in search of better opportunities, often driven by economic incentives and hence contributing to the country’s “brain drain”. One of the policies that is being implemented in order to facilitate the repatriation of national professionals is the program “Healthy Ecuador, I am back for you”; it seeks to promote the voluntary return of Ecuadorian doctors and specialists of the health sector living abroad. According to article 32 of the Constitution, health is a fundamental right that must be guaranteed and given by the Ecuadorian State. Hence, the Ecuadorian Ministry of Health, following the mandates stated in articles 4 and 196 of Ecuador’s Organic Law on Health, has the obligation to protect the right to health of every Ecuadorian citizen. This program aims at encouraging the repatriation of Ecuadorian health specialists who reside abroad through increased remunerations of $986 to $2,967, and by offering additional bonuses to those who render services in inaccessible parts of the country. Furthermore, national returnees are given direct affiliation to Ecuador’s Social Security Institute (IESS) upon their return.

For more information: 

• http://www.salud.gob.ec/ecuador-saludable-voy-por-ti/

GFMD 2014-2015 - Roundtable 2.1 "Mainstreaming migration into planning at the sectoral level"