Impact of Health Expenditures on the Economy of Ecuadorian Households: A Systematic Review
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.62452/nrm1e336Keywords:
Health expenditure, household economy, public health, Ecuadorian households, health financingAbstract
This study provides a systematic review to analyze how health expenditures affect the economy of Ecuadorian households. The project begins by addressing the challenges associated with the structural limitations of the Ecuadorian healthcare system and the gradual increase in the financial burden faced by families. A qualitative documentary approach was employed to design the study based on the analysis of scientific articles, institutional reports, academic theses, and specialized publications on healthcare financing, public expenditure, and family economics. The sources were drawn from both international literature and Ecuadorian research, with the latter serving as the primary source due to its close relevance to the national context. The results confirm that Ecuadorian households face increasing financial pressure related to healthcare payments, medications, specialist consultations, and prolonged treatments. Administrative deficiencies, low levels of healthcare provision, as well as inequalities in healthcare services further increase the economic vulnerability of low socioeconomic sectors. Likewise, the reviewed research indicates that illnesses and the lack of timely medical care lead to reduced labor productivity, negatively affecting the economic development opportunities of families. The study concludes with a call to improve public policies in Ecuador toward more efficient healthcare systems, better management of resources used by public services, and lower out-of-pocket expenses, all of which currently impact thousands of Ecuadorian households.
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