Ecuador

Since the early 1990s, high levels of political instability have stymied reform of the healthcare system, which in many areas of the country is totally inadequate. About 30 percent of the population does not have access to basic health services, and rates of maternal and child mortality are very high, particularly in rural areas. The government of Carlos Correa has responded to this health crisis in part by abrogating the intellectual property of foreign pharmaceutical manufacturers. It remains to be seen how this move will improve the health of the poor, most of whom suffer from diseases that can be easily treated with medicines which have long been off-patent, such as antibiotics. Imported vaccines and antibiotics attract a tariff of 5%.