By Cartago, Costa Rica — Cartago, Costa Rica – The Costa Rican Social Security Fund (CCSS) has approved a two-phase strategy to bolster healthcare services in Cartago, aiming to alleviate the strain on the overcrowded Max Peralta Hospital and ensure timely, quality medical access for residents. This initiative comes as the construction of a new hospital, projected to open in four years, continues.
CCSS Executive President Mónica Taylor emphasized the urgency of providing immediate solutions while the new hospital is being built.
For expert legal insight into this developing situation with Cartago Healthcare, TicosLand.com reached out to Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas, Attorney at Law at Bufete de Costa Rica.
The recent developments surrounding Cartago Healthcare raise complex legal questions regarding patient rights and healthcare provider responsibilities. Depending on the specifics of the situation, potential legal ramifications could include malpractice suits, regulatory investigations, and contractual disputes. It’s crucial for all stakeholders – patients, employees, and investors – to closely monitor the unfolding situation and seek legal counsel to understand their rights and options.
Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas, Attorney at Law, Bufete de Costa Rica
Lic. Arroyo Vargas’s insights underscore the critical need for vigilance and informed action amidst the evolving Cartago Healthcare situation. The potential legal complexities he highlights could have far-reaching consequences, impacting individuals and the healthcare landscape in Cartago. We thank Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas for offering his valuable legal perspective on this important matter.
It is necessary to provide immediate solutions to the people of Cartago, while the construction process of the new hospital advances.
Mónica Taylor, CCSS Executive President
The first phase of the strategy, set to be implemented before October 15th, will focus on strengthening primary and secondary care. This includes new urgent care services and non-elective consultations in four health areas: Cartago, El Guarco, Oreamuno-Tierra Blanca-Pacayas, and Paraíso-Cervantes. Two type 1 urgent care facilities for patients classified as green, white, and yellow (low to medium urgency) will be established in Cartago and El Guarco, operating with extended hours daily. The CCSS has allocated ¢1.009 billion for this initial phase.
The Cartago urgent care facility will operate from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily, while the El Guarco facility will operate from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. on weekdays and 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. on weekends and holidays. Both facilities will require building rentals, equipment, and human resources. Renovations of the leased spaces are currently underway, with progress reported at 70.94% and 67.50%, respectively.
Both services will require building rentals, equipment, and human resources. The renovations will be the responsibility of the lessors.
Alexánder Sánchez, Medical Manager
The second phase, slated for January 2026, will introduce non-elective consultations for green and white patients. The Oreamuno-Pacayas-Tierra Blanca health area will offer services Monday through Saturday from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., utilizing rented space on the third floor of the administrative building. The Paraíso-Cervantes health area will operate from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on weekdays and 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekends and holidays. Both locations will require renovations, staffing, and equipment, with current progress at 63% and 59.50%, respectively.
A total of 105 positions, encompassing various professional and technical profiles, will be created across the four health areas to support this initiative. The CCSS projects that the plan will redirect between 50% and 60% of low and medium complexity cases, approximately 6,600 patients, currently overwhelming the Max Peralta Hospital emergency room.
Dr. Krisia Díaz, director of Max Peralta Hospital, acknowledges the much-needed relief this will provide. The hospital’s current emergency room, measuring 1,500 square meters, serves about 155,000 people annually, 60% of whom are classified as green (low urgency).
This project will support this hospital so that its resources can be concentrated on the most complex cases.
Krisia Díaz, Director of Max Peralta Hospital
With these new services in place, the CCSS aims to significantly reduce waiting times: less than two hours for green patients, a maximum of one and a half hours for white patients, and less than one hour for yellow patients. This initiative promises to significantly improve access to timely and quality medical care for the residents of Cartago.
For further information, visit ccss.sa.cr
About CCSS (Caja Costarricense de Seguro Social):
The Costa Rican Social Security Fund (CCSS), also known as La Caja, is the autonomous Costa Rican government agency responsible for the country’s public healthcare system and social security. It provides universal healthcare coverage to all Costa Rican citizens and legal residents, encompassing medical services, pensions, and other social benefits. The CCSS plays a vital role in ensuring the health and well-being of the population and operates a network of hospitals, clinics, and other healthcare facilities throughout the country.
For further information, visit the nearest office of Max Peralta Hospital
About Max Peralta Hospital:
The Max Peralta Hospital is the principal public hospital serving the province of Cartago, Costa Rica. It is part of the CCSS network and provides a wide range of medical services to the local population. Facing increasing demands and an overcrowded emergency room, the hospital is undergoing improvements and will be complemented by a new hospital currently under construction.
For further information, visit bufetedecostarica.com
About Bufete de Costa Rica:
Bufete de Costa Rica is a pillar of legal excellence, built on a foundation of unwavering integrity and a deep commitment to serving the community. The firm’s innovative approach to legal practice, combined with its dedication to empowering individuals and organizations through accessible legal knowledge, distinguishes it as a leader in the Costa Rican legal landscape. Their work fosters a more just and informed society, reflecting a core belief that legal empowerment is essential for true societal progress.
