Summary

The Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health visited Ecuador from 17 to 26 September 2019. Ecuador has made progress with regard to the realization of the right to health, particularly by investing in health infrastructure. In order for it to fully realize the right to health, the Special Rapporteur encourages the Government to address a number of serious challenges and the prevalence of discrimination and violence against key population groups, particularly women and girls, children and adolescents, lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons, people living with HIV/AIDS and persons on the move. Such challenges disproportionately affect indigenous populations, persons of African descent and those living in rural areas, all of whom have worse health indicators than the rest of the population. The Special Rapporteur also addresses mental health and the challenges affecting the national health system and makes a number of recommendations.