The digital health agenda 2023–2027 of Ecuador

The Digital Health Agenda 2023–2027 of Ecuador is a comprehensive national strategy aimed at digitally transforming the country’s healthcare system. It is led by the Ministry of Public Health (MSP) and aligns with broader national digital transformation policies. Below is a detailed, factual, and informative summary:

The agenda aims to improve access, coverage, and quality of healthcare services through digital tools. It was developed in response to national constitutional guarantees for health and access to technology, as well as Ecuador’s Digital Transformation Agenda 2022–2025.

Its implementation supports existing health sector reforms such as the Plan Decenal de Salud 2022–2031, and is based on prior digital initiatives like telemedicine (initiated in 2008), RDACAA (2013), and PRAS (2017). It also builds on international frameworks such as WHO’s Global Digital Health Strategy and regional agreements like IS4H.

Strategic objectives

General objective:
To promote digital transformation in health from 2023 to 2027 to enhance national-level access, quality, and management of health services.

Specific objectives:

1. Implement digital systems to improve data quality and decision-making.
2. Strengthen the digital health ecosystem for efficient care.
3. Ensure interoperability between public and private health networks through regulatory frameworks.

Scope and governance

The agenda is mandatory for:

• Red Pública Integral de Salud (RPIS)
• Red Privada Complementaria (RPC)

It is coordinated by the MSP and supported by entities like MINTEL, IESS, ISSFA, and ISSPOL, with participation from academia and international partners such as the IDB and PAHO.

Implementation phases (2023–2027)

1. Creation (Years 1–2): Establish foundations, design systems, and prepare institutions.
2. Construction and Deployment (Years 3–4): Scale up digital systems and health data infrastructure nationwide.
3. Continuous Improvement (Year 5): Ensure sustainability, institutional anchoring, and prepare the next strategic plan.

Strategic pillars and actions

Strategy 1: Improve information quality and use

• Develop digital tools to support public health decisions.
• Integrate data analytics and dashboards.
• Strengthen digital skills in the health workforce.
• Promote use of international standards (e.g., HL7).
• Expand ERP systems for public health administration.

Strategy 2: Strengthen the digital health ecosystem

• Expand the use of Historia Clínica Electrónica (HCE) across institutions.
• Improve connectivity and infrastructure in health facilities.
• Promote telesalud and telemedicina nationwide.
• Support AI use for diagnostics and logistics.
• Ensure system interoperability and security.

Strategy 3: Foster innovation and governance

• Create legal frameworks for digital health governance.
• Develop cybersecurity protocols and data protection policies.
• Launch innovation labs and support health tech entrepreneurship.
• Empower citizens through mobile access and open data policies.
• Promote transparency and digital service monitoring.

Key dimensions of the agenda

The strategy addresses six dimensions across all phases:

1. Governance and management: Leadership, regulation, sustainability.
2. Knowledge and public health: Data use, surveillance, and evaluation.
3. Info-structure: Data models, clinical vocabularies, patient IDs.
4. Infrastructure: Hardware, connectivity, storage, and security.
5. Processes: Software and workflows supporting patient care.
6. People and culture: Training, change management, user engagement.