Health Minister fired in Ecuador after only 19 days

Lenin Moreno, the embattled president of Ecuador, has fired yet another Health Minister. 

Mauro Falconí remained in office for just 19 days, and did not survive recent blunders in the country’s vaccine rollout. Problems with scheduling processes created unnecessary lines of senior citizens — many of whom were unable to receive jabs due to logistical issues, despite having appointments.

Mr. Moreno lambasted Mr. Falconí and immediately appointed Camilo Salinas as his new Health Minister — his third in the past 40 days and fifth since the beginning of the pandemic. No Latin American country has made more changes to its top health official during the crisis, without having gone through an election. Bolivia, which elected a new president in November, is currently on its sixth minister.

Ecuador’s Health Ministry has had a revolving door since late in February, when Juan Carlos Zevallos resigned after a vaccine line-cutting scandal involving high government officials — and Mr. Zevallos’ own family. The former minister fled Ecuador after prosecutors opened an investigation, leading many political brokers to call him a fugitive of justice.

The change brings further turmoil to a country marred by political divisions. On Sunday, voters will elect their new president for the next five years.

• #government
• #health
• #latinAmerica