WRITEN BY SOFIA MEMBRENO

EL SALVADOR'S HEALTHCARE
SYSTEM
El Salvador is the smallest country in Central America with an area of just over
21,000 sq km, a population of almost 7 million, and over 20 volcanoes in the region.
The county is relatively poor with 19% of the population living on less than $1.25 a
day. Just as most countries, El Salvador has many flaws, one being their healthcare
system, ranked at 115th out of 190 countries. El Salvador's healthcare system can be
broken down into three parts, funding, accessibility, and insurance.

FUNDING
The total expenditure per capita of El Salvador for its health
sector is only$100, while the regional average is $3,000. In other
words, the healthcare system uses $100 per person’s health
needs. According to the Ministry of Health’s 2018-2019 Annual
Report, the total health budget total was $704.64 million. Out
of that total, government funds were $657.83 million, foreign
loans were $9.40 million, donations were $16.96 million,
Ministry’s Funds were $16.55 million, and special activities $3.91
million.

PRIVITE HEALTHCARE
Private Healthcare is the leading healthcare with the most
advanced healthcare providers in El Salvador, being the most
comparable to America’s typical healthcare. With private
healthcare, an individual has access to clinics and general
hospitals, along with hospitals that specialize in particular
treatments. The major private hospitals are the Hospital de
Diagnóstico, the Hospital de la Mujer, the Centro Pediátrico,
and the Centro Ginecológico.

Along with providing patients with a variety of health services

ranging from minor medical procedures to medical surgery.
non-profit organizations do is offer medical services such as
preventative treatments ( typically in rural areas of the country)
These private facilities and hospitals not only have modern
equipment but have educated staff that can assist in several
medical needs such as pediatrics, gynecology, diagnostics, and
more.

PUBLIC HEALTHCARE
Individuals who public health care have access to the
following medical services if fit the correct requirements:
- Ministry of Health (MSPAS)
- The Salvadoran Institute for Social Security (ISSS)
-Teacher’s Welfare
- Military Health
- Higher Council for Public Health
- the Salvadoran Institute for the Rehabilitation of Disabled
Persons

Even those who are not insured are covered and given basic health
services in public health institutions, due to a law in the country. Only
20% of the total population in El Salvador have health insurance
policies, with that said 18.4% of that is covered by the Salvadorian
Institute for Social Security, and 2.1% are covered by private health
insurance companies. With public healthcare, an individual has access
to 30 public hospitals, various primary care facilities, and 27 basic
healthcare systems. Due to the limited availability of facilities, most of
the hospitals across the country are mostly heavily crowded and lack
enough staff to support them.

Despite the lack of good healthcare for residents, El Salvador is a beautiful country to
visit. If decided to travel to El Salvador, it is best to acquire private health care.
Private health care is the safest and most reliable in case of an emergency. Even with
the cons of having public health care, it is an affordable resource for a majority of the
country.

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