Medical Services

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Hospitals & Clinics
La Península de Santa Elena

Public hospitals, private clinics, IESS, and specialist centres across Salinas, La Libertad, and Santa Elena — plus what to do in an emergency.

911

Emergency number

Santa Elena

Largest public hospital

24 h

Emergency availability

3 privadas

Main private hospitals

🚨

Emergency: call 911
Covers ambulance, police, and fire across the peninsula. Spanish-language dispatch. Largest public hospital: Hospital Dr. Liborio Panchana Sotomayor, Santa Elena (Av. Márquez de la Plata, 24 hours). In Salinas, the fastest private option is Hospital Granados (24 h, Cdla. Santa Paula, Salinas) which has an equipped ambulance fleet and ICU. If you have a vehicle, drive directly — ambulance response times on the peninsula can be long.

The Santa Elena Peninsula has a functional range of medical facilities — a large internationally-accredited public hospital in Santa Elena city, a second public hospital in La Libertad, three established private hospitals, IESS facilities for affiliates, and a network of public health centres (subcentros) across the smaller towns. For serious emergencies, Hospital Liborio Panchana in Santa Elena and the private Hospital Granados in Salinas are the two primary destinations. For specialist care beyond what the peninsula can offer, Guayaquil is approximately 2 hours away.

ℹ️ Important for visitors: Private hospitals require payment or a deposit upfront before treating non-emergency cases. Bring your travel insurance documents and a payment method. IESS facilities are for IESS affiliates only. Public hospitals (Ministerio de Salud) treat everyone including foreigners.

Public Hospitals

Santa Elena · Ministerio de Salud Pública · Largest public hospital

Hospital General Dr. Liborio Panchana Sotomayor

★ Principal referral hospital

The largest and most complex public hospital on the peninsula and the primary referral centre for the entire province of Santa Elena. Opened 21 November 2011, with 110 beds and a team of 22 specialist doctors among a total staff of 242 health professionals. Operates 24 hours including full A&E, maternity, and specialist services. Administered by the Ministerio de Salud Pública — open to everyone including foreigners at no charge for emergency care. Specialities include internal medicine, general surgery, gynaecology and obstetrics, paediatrics, cardiology, traumatology, psychology, and dentistry. Diagnostic services include X-ray, ultrasound, audiology, clinical laboratory, respiratory therapy, and CT scanning. Notably, in December 2014 Liborio Panchana became the second public hospital in Ecuador and in all of Hispanic America to receive international accreditation from Accreditation Canada International (ACI), achieving a score of 94.65% — a landmark for public healthcare in the country.

Note: As the province's main referral hospital, Liborio Panchana can face high patient volumes. Non-life-threatening cases may face waits. For urgent but stable conditions and faster service, the private hospitals below are an alternative.

24 hours · A&E · Maternity Santa Elena · Av. Márquez de la Plata Free for all · 110 beds 📞 2 942-611 🏅 Accreditation Canada International 2014

La Libertad · Ministerio de Salud Pública

Hospital Dr. Rafael Serrano López

The public hospital serving La Libertad canton, located on the Vía Punta Carnero. Operates 24 hours including A&E. Open to everyone including foreigners at no charge for emergency care. Covers internal medicine, general surgery, gynaecology and obstetrics, paediatrics, and traumatology. Receives emergency referrals from across the La Libertad and Salinas area. For the highest-complexity cases, patients are referred onward to Liborio Panchana in Santa Elena.

24 hours · A&E La Libertad · Vía Punta Carnero Free for emergencies 📞 (04) 277-5844

Salinas · Military · Open to civilians

Hospital Básico ESMA (Escuela Superior Militar de Aviación)

A military hospital (Fuerza Aérea Ecuatoriana) based in Salinas that accepts civilian patients. Offers basic hospital services including emergency care and consultation. A useful option for visitors in Salinas who need urgent attention without travelling to Santa Elena or La Libertad. Confirm current civilian access and hours on arrival — military hospital policies can vary.

Salinas Confirm civilian access before attending

Private Hospitals

Private hospitals on the peninsula generally offer faster service and a more comfortable patient environment than the public system. All require payment or a deposit upfront for non-emergency consultations. Travel insurance is strongly recommended.

Salinas · Private · 30+ years

Hospital Granados

★ Best private option in Salinas

The leading private hospital in Salinas and the recommended first call for visitors needing urgent private care on the peninsula. Over 30 years of operation. 24-hour emergency care with an equipped ambulance fleet and ICU. Services include general surgery, internal medicine, gynaecology and obstetrics, neonatology, paediatrics, traumatology, ENT, plastic and reconstructive surgery, haemodialysis (over 20 years), and the province's only hyperbaric oxygen chamber. Full imaging including X-ray, ultrasound, and clinical laboratory. Physiotherapy and rehabilitation also available.

Unique services: Only hyperbaric oxygen centre in Santa Elena Province. Long-established haemodialysis unit. Neonatal ICU with incubators and ventilators.

24 hours · A&E · ICU Cdla. Santa Paula, Salinas · Calle 5ta E / Av. 14 y 18 🌐 hospitalgranados.med.ec

La Libertad · Private · Radiology

Clínica Metropolitana

A private clinic on Calle 8 / Avenida 14, Vía a Punta Carnero, near Hospital Rafael Serrano López. Offers private consultation and is noted particularly for its radiology and imaging services (X-ray). A practical option for diagnostics and specialist consultations.

Calle 8 Av. 14, Vía Punta Carnero, La Libertad Radiology · X-ray 🌐 clinicametropolitana.com.ec

La Libertad · Private · 24 hours

Clínica Santa Martha (CLISAMARSA)

A 24-hour private clinic in La Libertad offering emergency attention and medical consultation. Located on Calle 18, La Libertad.

24 hours Calle 18, La Libertad 📞 (04) 278-2243

IESS — Social Security Health

IESS facilities are available to IESS affiliates only — Ecuadorian workers enrolled in the social security system, their dependants, and pensioners. Visitors and non-affiliates cannot access IESS services.

Affiliates only

Hospital Centro Clínico Quirúrgico Ambulatorio IESS — La Libertad. Regional IESS clinic offering outpatient specialist consultations including ophthalmology, dentistry, ENT, internal medicine, gynaecology, paediatrics, traumatology, and dermatology. Emergency service 24 hours. Scheduled appointments via iess.gob.ec or the app.

Subcentros IESS ambulatory care units (CAA/UAA) operate across the peninsula for routine and follow-up appointments, generally 08:00–18:00, in Salinas, La Libertad, and Santa Elena.

Public Health Centres (Subcentros)

The Ministerio de Salud Pública operates a network of public health centres across the peninsula for primary care, vaccinations, maternal health, and basic consultations. Free and open to all. Not equipped for emergencies — go to Hospital Liborio Panchana or Rafael Serrano López for anything urgent.

Centre	Location	Notes
Subcentro de Salud José Luis Tamayo	Salinas	Primary care, general medicine
Centro de Salud Enríquez Gallo	Salinas	Primary care
Centro de Salud La Libertad	La Libertad	Primary care, maternal health
Centro Materno Infantil Venus de Valdivia	Valdivia	Maternal and child health specialist centre
Centro de Salud San Antonio	Manglaralto	Primary care, northern peninsula
Centro de Salud Valdivia	Valdivia	Primary care
Policlínico Naval	Salinas malecón	Military polyclinic; civilian access Mon–Fri 08:00–16:30

Subcentro locations and hours are community-contributed and may change. Confirm locally.

Specialist Services on the Peninsula

🫁 Hyperbaric Oxygen Hospital Granados is the only hyperbaric oxygen centre in Santa Elena Province. Used for decompression sickness (important for divers), wound healing, and certain infections.	🩸 Haemodialysis Hospital Granados has operated a haemodialysis unit for over 20 years for both inpatient and outpatient renal patients.
🖥 CT Scanning Hospital Liborio Panchana has a CT scanner (reactivated after a period of maintenance). Provides high-resolution imaging for critical patients at no cost to public patients.	👁 Ophthalmology Available at IESS La Libertad (affiliates) and at Fundación Oftalmológica José Martín. Confirm current status locally for private ophthalmology.
🦷 Dentistry Servident (Calle 17, Mon–Fri 09:00–18:00) is a noted private dental practice. IESS La Libertad also offers dental services to affiliates. Multiple private dental consultories operate across Salinas.	👂 ENT Dr Antonio Matamoros Instituto de Otorrinolaringología offers specialist ENT services on the peninsula. Hospital Granados and IESS La Libertad also list ENT among their services.

Oncology — SOLCA

SOLCA (Sociedad de Lucha Contra el Cáncer) is Ecuador's principal cancer treatment institution, a private non-profit with public service status. For oncological care, the peninsula has its own provincial unit; for advanced treatment, patients are referred to Guayaquil.

Santa Elena · Provincial oncology unit

SOLCA — Unidad Oncológica Provincial Península de Santa Elena

The provincial SOLCA unit covers cancer diagnosis, screening, prevention campaigns, and outpatient oncology services for Santa Elena Province. A non-profit institution described as aiming to lead medical and diagnostic services in the province with the highest technological value. Services include clinical laboratory, consultations, and diagnostic imaging. Not a full treatment hospital — complex cases and chemotherapy/radiotherapy are referred to SOLCA Guayaquil. Located on the Vía Santa Elena–Ancón, Calle Bellavista y Av. Bolívar.

Vía Santa Elena–Ancón · Calle Bellavista y Av. Bolívar 📞 (04) 294-2374 / (04) 294-2018 📱 0989 917 943 ✉ administracion@solcasantaelena.med.ec

Guayaquil · National oncology referral · ~2 hrs from peninsula

SOLCA — Instituto Oncológico Nacional Dr. Juan Tanca Marengo, Guayaquil

The national SOLCA matrix in Guayaquil is the primary referral centre for complex oncological treatment for patients from Santa Elena Province. Offers the full spectrum of cancer care: oncology consultations, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, surgical oncology, pathology, imaging, and clinical trials. Patients from the peninsula are routinely referred here when treatment beyond the provincial unit's capacity is required. Located on Av. Pedro Menéndez Gilbert, junto a Cdla. Juan Tanca Marengo, Guayaquil.

Av. Pedro Menéndez Gilbert, Guayaquil 📞 (04) 371-8300 📞 1-800-SOLCAG (1-800-765224) 24 hours 🌐 solca.med.ec

Ambulances

⚠ Critical: How public ambulances work in Ecuador

Public ambulances (911) will only transport to a public hospital. They are not permitted to take you to a private facility. If you arrive at a public hospital by public ambulance and then want to transfer to a private hospital, they will not assist with the transfer — you will need to arrange it yourself, and the patient will be discharged "against medical advice" with IVs removed. This has been observed repeatedly by long-term residents.

IESS affiliate warning: If you are an IESS affiliate and arrive unconscious at a private hospital or clinic, IESS will not cover the costs. It is recommended that IESS affiliates keep printed on the copy of their cédula in their wallet: "NO HOSPITAL PRIVADO"

Taxi as an alternative: Many experienced expats and residents recommend — if the situation is serious but survivable for a 2-hour drive — calling a taxi to Guayaquil's Omni Hospital rather than waiting for an ambulance. Taxis may arrive faster than an ambulance in many situations, particularly during high-traffic events like Carnaval. One first-hand account: a 911 call during Carnaval night on the Salinas malecón resulted in a public ambulance arriving in approximately 20 minutes despite heavy traffic, reaching the hospital in a further 10 minutes.

Source: community knowledge from the Salinas Expats & Residents Facebook group, August 2023. Verify current regulations locally.

Public Ambulance

911 — Covers the full peninsula. Spanish-language dispatch. Will transport to the nearest public hospital only (Hospital Liborio Panchana in Santa Elena, or Hospital Rafael Serrano López in La Libertad depending on your location). No private facilities.

Private Ambulances

🚑

Hospital Granados Ambulance

Equipped ambulances with medical and paramedic staff. Operates inter-facility transfers to Guayaquil under biosecurity protocols. Conventions and special arrangements for companies and private patients.

📞 +593 98 336 2579 · (04) 277-5576

🚑

LMS Ambulances — Life Medical Service (Salinas)

Private ambulance service operating in the Salinas area. Website: lifemedicalserviceec.com

📞 +593 98 119 9583 · +593 98 571 8958

🚑

Clínica Baste Ambulance

Private ambulance service. Facebook: hospitalclinicabaste

📞 +593 99 375 7572

When You Need Guayaquil

For complex surgery, advanced oncology, tertiary cardiac care, and specialist procedures not available on the peninsula, Guayaquil is approximately 2 hours away via the E-40. Many experienced residents recommend Omni Hospital specifically for serious cases.

Guayaquil · Recommended by residents · Accepts IESS

Omni Hospital

★ Expat community recommendation

Consistently recommended by the Salinas expat and long-term resident community as the preferred destination for serious medical cases requiring Guayaquil-level care. Accepts IESS. Specialities include cardiovascular surgery, general surgery, physiotherapy, geriatrics, neurosurgery, traumatology, and urology. 24-hour emergency service. If the situation is serious but survivable for a 2-hour road trip, many residents advise calling a taxi directly to Omni rather than going through the public hospital system.

24 hours · A&E ext. 7001 Av. Juan Tanca Marengo, Calle 13E NE, Guayaquil 📞 PBX (04) 210-9000 Accepts IESS 🌐 omnihospital.ec

Other Guayaquil hospitals used by peninsula residents:

Hospital Clínica Kennedy — one of Ecuador's largest private hospital groups, multiple locations in Guayaquil
Hospital Alcívar — major private referral hospital, central Guayaquil
Hospital Luis Vernaza — large public/charitable hospital for complex cases
Los Ceibos (IESS Guayaquil / Hospital Teodoro Maldonado Carbo) — IESS tertiary referral hospital for affiliates
SOLCA Guayaquil — see Oncology section above for cancer-specific referrals

Hospital Granados operates ambulance transfers to Guayaquil under biosecurity protocols. Confirm availability and cost when calling: +593 98 336 2579.

Practical Tips

Travel insurance is not optional. Private hospital costs can be significant without coverage. Ensure your policy covers emergency evacuation to Guayaquil if required. Carry policy documents at all times.
Language. All medical staff work in Spanish. English-speaking doctors exist but are not guaranteed at any facility. In an emergency, the word emergencia and the address are sufficient — call 911.
Payment upfront. Private clinics require a deposit or payment before treating non-emergencies. Have a card or cash available.
Bring your documents. Passport (for foreign visitors), travel insurance card, and any existing prescription medications in original packaging with documentation.
Medications. Pharmacies are plentiful across Salinas and La Libertad — see Pharmacies. Many medications available by prescription elsewhere can be obtained over the counter in Ecuador.
Diving injuries. If you experience symptoms of decompression sickness after diving, go directly to Hospital Granados — the only hyperbaric chamber in the province.
High season pressure. Public hospitals face higher patient volumes during high season (Jan–May). For non-critical conditions, the private options are faster.