Abstract

ROMERO-VASCONEZ, Enrique Fernando; WILSON-YOVANNY, Merino Sánchez  and  COMAS-RODRIGUEZ, Raúl. Job cuts in hospitals run by Ecuador's Ministry of Public Health in 2020. Noesis [online]. 2025, vol.7, n.esp1, pp.139-151.  Epub Nov 30, 2025. ISSN 2739-0365.  https://doi.org/10.35381/noesisin.v7i1.375.

This study analyzes the elimination of civil service positions in hospitals belonging to Ecuador's Ministry of Public Health during 2020. The legal grounds used to dismiss staff were reviewed, comparing Ministerial Agreement MDT-0124-2020 with the files of the workers affected. It was identified that the process violated constitutional and administrative principles, such as decentralization, due process, effective protection, and legality. The findings show that the dismissal order was issued directly by the ministerial authority, without respecting the hierarchical structure provided for in hospital regulations. It is concluded that these practices weaken legal certainty, affect labor rights, and jeopardize institutional transparency. The article seeks to contribute to critical reflection on public management, highlighting the need to strictly observe constitutional principles to guarantee the protection of civil servants and the rule of law.

Keywords : Public health; administrative structure; labour policy; due process..

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