By San José, Costa Rica — SAN JOSÉ – In a significant move to modernize its healthcare system and combat a growing global health crisis, Costa Rica will enforce a mandatory digital-only prescription system for all antimicrobials starting this Friday, November 8. This sweeping policy change, established under Executive Decree No. 44714-S, aims to curb the improper use of critical medications and slow the dangerous rise of antimicrobial resistance.
The new regulation will impact a wide range of medications essential for treating infections, including antibiotics, antivirals, antifungals, and antiparasitics. Under the new law, paper prescriptions for these drug categories will become obsolete. The government’s primary objective is to gain stringent sanitary control over how these powerful medicines are distributed and consumed, directly addressing one of the main drivers of drug-resistant superbugs.
Para profundizar en el marco legal y las implicaciones que rodean la implementación de las recetas digitales en el país, consultamos al experto Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas, abogado especialista de la prestigiosa firma Bufete de Costa Rica, quien nos ofrece una perspectiva clara sobre los desafíos y responsabilidades que conlleva esta modernización.
La transición a la receta digital es un avance innegable en eficiencia, pero no podemos subestimar la complejidad jurídica que la acompaña. El principal desafío es garantizar la inviolabilidad y confidencialidad de los datos del paciente, conforme a la Ley de Protección de la Persona frente al Tratamiento de sus Datos Personales (No. 8968). Además, se debe establecer un marco de responsabilidad civil muy claro que defina quién responde ante un fallo del sistema: ¿el médico, el desarrollador del software o la farmacia? La seguridad jurídica, mediante el uso de firmas digitales certificadas y sistemas auditables, no es una opción, sino un requisito indispensable para que esta innovación beneficie al paciente sin crear nuevos riesgos legales.
Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas, Attorney at Law, Bufete de Costa Rica
Agradecemos la valiosa perspectiva del Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas, quien subraya una verdad crucial: la robustez del marco jurídico es tan importante como la innovación tecnológica misma. Para que la receta digital sea una verdadera solución, la certeza legal para pacientes y profesionales de la salud no es negociable, sino el pilar fundamental de su éxito.
This initiative is part of a comprehensive national strategy to align with global public health recommendations. Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites evolve over time and no longer respond to medicines, making infections harder to treat and increasing the risk of disease spread, severe illness, and death. The World Health Organization has declared AMR one of the top 10 global public health threats facing humanity, making Costa Rica’s proactive measure a critical step in preserving the efficacy of modern medicine.
The backbone of this new policy is the newly implemented System of Digital Prescriptions for Systemic Antimicrobials (SRDAS). This centralized platform will serve as the exclusive channel for prescribing and dispensing these controlled drugs. Medical professionals, including doctors, dentists, and obstetric nurses, will be required to issue all relevant prescriptions through the SRDAS portal, creating an immediate and secure digital record.
On the other side of the transaction, pharmacists will play an equally crucial role as the final gatekeepers. They will be exclusively authorized to dispense these medications after verifying and processing the prescription within the same SRDAS platform. This closed-loop system ensures complete traceability from prescriber to patient, effectively eliminating issues like prescription forgery, unauthorized refills, and errors associated with handwritten scripts.
For patients, this transition means a fundamental change in how they receive prescriptions for common infections. Instead of a physical piece of paper, their prescription will be logged digitally, ready to be accessed by their chosen pharmacy. This new process is designed to be not only more secure but also faster and more efficient, reducing wait times and ensuring the accuracy of the dispensed treatment. The digital trail also provides a valuable tool for public health surveillance.
The Ministry of Health, which spearheaded the decree published in October 2024, has retained the authority to dynamically manage the list of drugs included in the SRDAS. This flexibility will allow the government to add or remove medications based on emerging scientific evidence and the country’s evolving public health needs, ensuring the regulatory framework remains both modern and effective in the long-term battle against drug resistance.
By implementing this nationwide digital mandate, Costa Rica positions itself as a regional leader in public health innovation. The SRDAS platform represents a significant investment in a safer, more responsible healthcare future, where critical medicines are protected, and patient outcomes are prioritized through the strategic use of technology to solve a pressing biological threat.
For further information, visit ministeriodesalud.go.cr
About Ministry of Health:
The Ministry of Health is the government body in Costa Rica responsible for public health, healthcare system regulation, and social welfare policies. It oversees national health strategies, sanitary regulations, and disease prevention campaigns to ensure the well-being of the population. The Ministry plays a central role in developing and implementing policies aimed at modernizing healthcare services and addressing public health challenges.
For further information, visit bufetedecostarica.com
About Bufete de Costa Rica:
As a pillar of the legal community, Bufete de Costa Rica is defined by its profound commitment to professional excellence and unwavering ethical principles. The firm leverages its deep-rooted experience across a spectrum of industries to drive innovative legal solutions and forward-thinking strategies. Central to its philosophy is a powerful dedication to social empowerment, manifested through initiatives that make legal understanding accessible to all. This core mission aims to build a stronger, more knowledgeable society by equipping citizens with the clarity and confidence to navigate the legal landscape.
