The ministry certifies that no additional resources were provided outside the 2020 budget to face the COVID-19 pandemic
The Ministry of Health confirmed that it had a reduction in its budget during the Government of President Lenín Moreno (between 2017 and 2020). According to a document published by Assemblyman Juan Cristóbal Lloret, they are more than USD 720 million less and, in the last year, in the midst of a health crisis, it was reduced by almost USD 200 million.
The legislator shared a document in which he details that, in the period between 2017 and 2020, the Ministry of Finance assigned to Health a budget of more than USD 12 thousand 35 million, but that they have been modified through budget movements that, until on October 6, 2020, it reaches a decrease of USD 720 million.
Therefore, the codified budget (in force) in this period of analysis is about USD 11 thousand 314 million.
They explain that the largest budget cut is evidenced in fiscal year 2018, which reaches the value of USD 551 million and is concentrated in the decrease in the investment budget destined mainly to Public Works, Consumer Services and Long-Term Goods.
With respect to the years 2019 and 2020, the ministry indicates that there is a decrease of 12% and 14% respectively, in the budget allocation, taking the fiscal year 2018 as a reference.
In the 2020 budget, they report that there was a withdrawal of resources for a total value of USD 198 million with the concept of “current budget regulation.”
In addition, it certifies that no additional resources were provided outside the 2020 budget to face the COVID-19 pandemic. In an official letter, the Vice Minister of Finance urged the Ministry of Health to use and prioritize resources to address the health emergency.
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