Medical Evacuation

🚁 Medical Evacuation in Ecuador
Topic	Emergency Medical Transport
Local ER	Hospital Rafael Serrano (La Libertad)
Nearest Major Hospital	Guayaquil (~2.5 hrs), Quito (~8 hrs)
Emergency Number	911
Air Ambulance	Available via insurance (Guayaquil base)

ECUAWIKI › HEALTH & SAFETY › MEDICAL EVACUATION

Medical evacuation (medevac) refers to the transport of a patient to a higher level of care when local facilities are insufficient. On the Santa Elena Peninsula, this most commonly means transferring from local clinics to hospitals in Guayaquil or Quito, or in extreme cases, international evacuation to the USA or another country.

When Medevac Becomes Necessary

Local hospitals and clinics on the Peninsula handle routine and emergency care adequately, but serious conditions may require transfer:

Cardiac surgery or complex cardiac events
Serious trauma requiring specialized surgical intervention
Neurological emergencies (stroke, aneurysm)
Neonatal intensive care
Complex cancer treatment
Burns requiring specialized burn units
Any condition where local ICU capacity is exceeded

Local Emergency Resources

The primary emergency hospital on the Peninsula is Hospital Dr. Rafael Serrano Mata in La Libertad, which has emergency services and basic intensive care. Private clinics in Salinas can stabilize patients. Call 911 for ambulance service.

For immediate emergencies, do not delay — call 911 first, then contact your insurance company.

Transfer to Guayaquil

Guayaquil (~2.5 hours by road) has several major hospitals capable of handling complex cases:

Hospital Luis Vernaza — public, large, comprehensive
Hospital Clínica Kennedy — private, high quality, English-speaking staff
Hospital Alcívar — private, well-equipped
Hospital Omni — private, international standard

Most private health insurance plans include ambulance transport to Guayaquil. Road ambulance is the most common transfer method for stable patients.

Air Ambulance Services

For critical patients who cannot safely travel by road, air ambulance services operate from Guayaquil's José Joaquín de Olmedo International Airport. Companies providing international air evacuation include:

AirMed International
Global Rescue
SkyMed
Medjet

Air ambulance costs without insurance can reach $30,000–$100,000+ USD for international evacuation. This is why comprehensive travel or expat health insurance with medevac coverage is strongly recommended.

Insurance Recommendations

Most expat-focused insurers offer medevac coverage as part of their international health plans:

Cigna Global — comprehensive international health with medevac
Aetna International
SafetyWing — budget option popular with digital nomads, includes emergency evacuation
GeoBlue — popular with US citizens abroad

See Private Health Insurance Ecuador for a broader overview of health insurance options on the Peninsula.

Practical Tips

Keep a copy of your health insurance card and emergency contact numbers on your person at all times
Know your blood type and any major medical history
Inform family or emergency contacts of your insurance provider and policy number
If you have a serious pre-existing condition, confirm your insurer covers related emergencies in Ecuador before traveling or relocating