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Information Sheet Last Updated: June 2005
Medical Information
Health care in the region is varied. There are some decent private and government clinics/hospitals. It is worth contacting your embassy or consulate upon arrival and asking them where the diplomats go when they need medical attention, as these tend to be the best. They usually follow the more aggressive American style of medical care where you will be referred right to a specialist. First impressions count so if a facility is dirty and the staff wears gray coats instead of white ones, then be wary of the general standard of medicine and hygiene. If you do become ill, and you have the opportunity, you should ask your medical insurer whether they are satisfied that the medical center or hospital that you have been referred to is up to a sufficient standard.
The greater disease risk in Ecuador is caused by the greater volume of disease carriers in the form of mosquitoes and sand flies. The main viral disease is Dengue fever. A mosquito that bites during the day transmits dengue fever. The disease is like a bad flu with two or three days of illness followed by a short period of recovery then another attack of illness. Westerners rarely get the worst haemorrhagic form of the disease. Bacterial diseases include tuberculosis and some causes of the more common traveler’s diarrhea. The parasitic diseases are many, but the two key ones are malaria and South American trypanosomiasis known as Chagas Disease.
Some recommended vaccinations are polio and tetanus if you have not had one in the last 10 years, typhoid if you have not had one in the last 3 years, yellow fever, rabies if you are traveling to the jungle or more remote areas, and hepatitis A which can be easily caught from food or water.
Health Services and Specialists in Quito
Acupuncturist
Francisco Yang
Address: Luis Cordero 1316, between J.L. Mera y Amazonas
Open: M - Th 2:30-6:30pm., Fri 8:30 - 10:30am
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Massage Therapists
Annie Verbec
Phone: 22c3 581, 2765 381
Address: Mindo Sandoval 500 y Altar (zona aeropuerto)
Cost: $30 visit
Energy balancing, massage . Speaks English
Maria Soledad Larrea
Phone: 222 5 982
Address : Las Casas 1129 y La Isla
Cost: $1 5 per hour
Does a perfect Swedish Massage, studied in the States and speaks perfect English as well.
Homeopathy
Dr. Patricio Rendón Martinez
Phone:225-3217
Address: Av. República 1932 y 10 de Agosto
Open: M - F 9am-1pm, 3-7pm
Cost: $30 visit.
Medical Doctors
Dr. Diego Dávalos
Phone: 2269 098
Address: Hospital Metropolitano Av. Occidental y Mariana de Jesús C2, Office 10
Open: M - F 10am-1pm, 3:30am-7pm
Cost: $35 visit .
Pediatrics, Cardiology, Speaks English and French
Dr. Ramiro Velasco / Rheuma Total
Phone: 2224 084, 099470896;098246066
Address: Acuña 107 e Inglaterra
Open: M - F 3-7 pm and appointments
Cost: $20visit
Extremely helpful internal medicine, multiple specialties and services. Karin Behnert is an R.N. and physiotherapist from Germany who speaks English as well. 24-hour emergency service.
Eduardo Larrea
Phone: 226-7652 (office); 099194775 (cell)
Address: Centro Médico Metropolitano, 3 rd floor, Office number 311
Open : M - F 10am-1pm, 3pm-7pm
Cost: $35 visit.
Speaks English. Friendly.
Patricio Mejia M.
Phone: 2245 833, 2245 602 (home), 099162680 (cell)
Address: Centro Meditropoli, Av. Mariana de Jesús y Occidental, 6th floor, Office no. 605
Open: M – F 12pm-2pm, 4pm-6pm
Internal medicine.
Dr. Jose Pitarque
Phone: 226-8173, 287-1222 (home)
Address: Centro Meditropoli, Av. Mariana de Jesus y Occidental, 2nd flr, Office No. 211-212
Open: M - F 9am-12pm, 2pm-5pm
Cost: $45 visit
Speaks English, Corrective laser surgery
John Rosenberg
Phone: 2521 104, 2227 777 (beeper), 099739734 (cellular)
Address: Foch 476 y Diego de Almagro, 1st floor
Open: M - F after 3-6 pm
Cost: $30 visit
Highly recommended. Speaks English. Doctor for the U.S. Embassy. House calls, always available for emergencies.
Dr. Luis Alfredo Valdivieso
Phone: 2431 705
Address: Hospital Metropolitano, Av. Occidental y Mariana de Jesús C2-9 Open: M - F 8.30am-12pm, 2.30pm- 5:30pm
Cost: $35 visit
General Medicine. Speaks French
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Chiropractor
Dr. Patrick Bullock
Phone: 2457 782, 09 972 1503
Address: Coremo E14-73 y Eloy Alfaro
Open: M-F 9-12pm and 3-6 pm.
Cost: $30 visit, Package of 10 visits $200
Highly recommended, Speaks English
Dr. Reza Shapouri
Phone: 227 4195, 224 5113
Address: Calle el dia N37-189 y el Mercurio
Open: M-F 9-1pm and 3-7 pm,
Cost: $30 visit
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Dentists
Dra Silvia Altamirano
Phone: 224 4119; 289 2356 (home)
Address: Amazonas N 32-227 y Av. República
Open: M-F 9am--12: 30; 3-6pm; Sat. 9:30am-12: 30pm, Sundays for emergencies
Highly recommended. Silvia Altamirano also does orthodontic work
Dr. Ruperto Arias
Phone: 252 4582
Address: Amazonas 239 y 18 de Septiembre
Cost: $20 visit
Open: M-F 11.15am – 12.15pm, 2:30pm – 6pm
Speaks French.
Dr Jorge Cobo Avendaño
Phone: 225 6589 (direct line); 222 8444 (for messages)
Address: Centro Médico Metropolitano (in front of the hospital) Av. Mariana de Jesus, Oficina 004, ground floor.
Open: M-F 9:30am-7: 30pm Saturday with appointments only.
Cost: $25 visit
Dr Roberto Mena
Phone: 2569 149, 255 9932
Address: Av. Coruna E24-865 e Isabel La Católica
Open: M,T Th 9-12:30 p.m., 3-7 p.m.W,F 9-5pm
Cost: $30 a visit
Speaks German and English.
Dr. Jorge Salvador
Phone: 2548 877
Address: Av. La República 189 btwn Almagro y 6de Diciembre
Open: M-F 9-12pm and 3-7pm
Cost: $20 visit.
Dr. Fernando Sandoval
Phone: 2465 795
Address: Universo 527 y Shyris
Open: Everyday 12:30pm-6:30pm
Costs: $30 visit
Speaks English
Dra. Rosario de Tugendhat
Phone: 243 7752
Address: República del Salvador 733 y Portugal, Edificio Gabriela 3, 4th floor, Dept. 402
Open: Mon & Fri 2pm-7pm; Tues, Wed, Thurs 8:00am-4pm
Cost: $30 visit
German woman. Recommended.
Dr. Fausto Vallejo
Phone:255 4781 (office), 09 981 9157 (cell)
Address: Madrid 742 y Lugo
Open: M - F 9am-12pm, 3:30pm-7:30pm Cost: $30 visit.
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Optometrist
Lissette Arroba de Lagomarsini, O.D.
Address: 10 de Agosto y Santiago (main office on the corner)
Open: M - F 9am-7pm, Saturday 9am-1pm
Highly recommended. From the United States. No appointments, just show up.
José Pitarque (Eye Surgeon)
Hospital Metropolitano Recommended for laser sugery procedures to correct vision.
Physiotherapist
Fernando Alarcón
Phone: 2461-900, 2461-908
Address: Rio Coca y 733 Sante Fé
Open: M - F 9-1pm, 3pm-7pm
Cost: $20 visit
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Laboratories
Dra. Johanna Grimm
Phone: 246-2182, 246-9841 (fax)
Address: Republica del Salvador 112 y los Shyris , Edif Onyx
Open: M - F 7:30am-1pm, 3-6 pm
Good lab. Dr. Grimm will give you back results personally and suggest treatment. Speaks German and English
Instituto Izquieta - Perez
Phone: 256-5858, 255-2715
Address: Iquique 245 y Yaguachi
Open: 8am-1pm
Cost: HIV Test $5
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Clinics and Hospitals
Clínica de la Mujer
Phone: 245-8000
Address: Av. Amazonas N39-216 y Gaspar de Villarroel
Open: 24 hrs
Cost: $36 visit
Hospital Voz Andes
Phone: 226-2142
Address: Calle Villalengua 267 y 10 de Agosto
Open: 8am-4pm, Emergencia: 24 hours
Cost: $9 visit
Hospital Metropolitano
Phone: 2261 520 (information)
2265 020 (emergency and ambulance)
Address: Av. Mariana de Jesús y Occidental
Open: 24 hours
Cost: $33 visit.
Centro de Salud No.1
Phone: 295-0966
Address: Rocafuerte 1545
Open: M - F 8am-12pm
Administer yellow fever shots Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Need your passport or cedula. Shot is free, certificate $10.
Laboratorio Clínica Patologico - Bacteriologico Marco A. Herdoiza V.
Phone: 222-6990
Address: Cordero 410 y 6 de Diciembre
Edificio San Francisco, 4th floor
Open: 8am-12pm, 2:30pm-6pm, Sat 8:30am-12pm
Clínica Pichincha
Phone: 2562 296, 2569 797 (fax)
Address: Veintimilla E3-30 y Paéz
Open: 24 hours
Will do lab analysis for parasites, gives shots.
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Additional Doctors Recommended by World Teach and/or Peace Corps
Dr. Rodrigo Albán
Phone: 225 0500
Address: Calle A-19 Mariana de Jesús
Open: M - F 10:30am-12:30pm, 3:30pm-6.30pm
Cost: $30 visit
Ear, nose and throat
Dr. Fernando Chávez
Phone: 243-2166
Address: Hospital Metropolinano, Mariana de Jesús y Occidental, Floor C-1, Office No. 37
Open: M – F 12:30pm-4pm
Cost: $30 visit.
Gastroenterology
Dr. Alfredo Jijón
Phone: 2456 359, 2466 314, 2260 581 (Until 3pm only)
Address: Centro Meditropoli. 2 nd floor, Office No. 215
Open: M - F 10am-12pm, 3:30pm-5 pm
Cost: $45 visit
Gynecologist
Dr. Xavier Jijón
Phone: 225-8042
Address: Calle A y Mariana de Jesús 3rd floor, office 313
Open: M - F 11:am-1.30pm.,3pm.- 5pm
Cost: $40 visit
Dr. Enrique Noboa
Phone: 226-7776
Address: Centro Medico Metropolitano, Planta Baja
Open: M - F 4-6pm by appointment.M - F 8:30am-12:30pm, 2-5pm
Cost: $35 visit
Dr. Cesar Sandoval
Phone: 226-0563
Address: Centro Medico Metropolitano, 6 ma piso, Oficina 617
Open: M - F 9am-1pm, 3pm-7pm
Cost: $45 visit.
Pulmonary Intensive Care
Dr. Diego Arcos
Phone: 245-7268
Address: Republica Salvador Btwn Portugal e Irlanda. Edif. Rosnía, 2 do Piso
Open: M - F 9am-12pm, 12:30pm-7:30pm.
Cost: $30 visit
Dermatologist
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Travelers Insurance
The following agencies in the U.S. and online provide health insurance to travelers:
Access America (Blue Cross)
Phone: (800) 284-8300
Address: 6600 W. Broad St. Richmond, VA 23230.
Council on International Exchange (CIEE)
Phone: (800) 2-COUNCIL
Address: 205 East 42nd Street, P.O.
Box 31716 , Omaha, NE 68131-0716
Travel Assistance International
Phone: (800) 821-2828
Address: 1133 15th St. NW, Suite 400, Washington, D.C. 20005
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Travelers Insurance (cont.)
Travelers Insured International
Phone: (800) 243-3174
Address: P.O. Box 280568, East Hartford, CT 06128-0568
Health Care Abroad (Wallach and Co.)
Phone: (800) 237-6615
Address: P.O. BOX 480, Middleburg, VA 22117
World Nomads
Web: http://worldnomads.com
Insurance available online underwritten by Allianz for residents of USA, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand
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