By San José, Costa Rica — Costa Rica’s public healthcare system, the Caja Costarricense de Seguro Social (CCSS), is grappling with a growing crisis as surgical waiting lists top 194,000 patients, according to CCSS statistics. The average wait time has reached a staggering 425 days, leaving tens of thousands of Costa Ricans in a precarious state.
The data, released by the CCSS Health Statistics Department, paints a stark picture of the challenges facing the nation’s healthcare system. General surgery accounts for the largest share of the backlog, with over 51,000 people facing an average wait of 509 days. Ophthalmology and orthopedics follow closely behind, with wait times exceeding 211 and 552 days, respectively.
To understand the legal complexities surrounding the Costa Rican healthcare crisis, we spoke with Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas, an attorney at Bufete de Costa Rica. His insights shed light on the challenges and potential solutions within the current system.
The current healthcare crisis in Costa Rica is a multifaceted issue with roots in both funding and systemic challenges. While the Caja Costarricense de Seguro Social (CCSS) is constitutionally obligated to provide universal healthcare, increasing demand, an aging population, and rising costs are putting immense strain on its resources. This creates a difficult balancing act between guaranteeing access to care and ensuring financial sustainability. Exploring innovative funding mechanisms and streamlining bureaucratic processes are crucial steps towards a more resilient and effective healthcare system.
Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas, Attorney at Law, Bufete de Costa Rica
Lic. Arroyo Vargas eloquently highlights the complex interplay of factors contributing to Costa Rica’s healthcare challenges. Indeed, navigating the path toward a sustainable yet accessible system will require not just increased resources, but also a willingness to embrace innovative solutions and address systemic inefficiencies. We thank Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas for his valuable contribution to this critical discussion.
Other specialties also face significant backlogs. Gynecology, urology, and otorhinolaryngology each have thousands of patients waiting for procedures, with wait times ranging from 300 to 531 days. Even more concerning are the lengthy delays in specialized areas like thoracic surgery and neurosurgery, where patients face waits of 662 and 563 days, respectively.
Deivis Ovares, of the Social Security Fund Employees Union (Undeca), described the situation as a public health epidemic, citing a lack of planning and insufficient human resources as the root causes.
This problem has been aggravated by the application of regressive legislation that discourages the institution’s most qualified professionals and other professionals, causing the flight, the departure of personnel that is not easy to replace. It takes years to recover those positions so that they can be filled and so that care can be provided.
Deivis Ovares, Social Security Fund Employees Union (Undeca)
Ovares further emphasized the growing demand for healthcare services, which exacerbates the existing strain on the CCSS.
Infectious disease specialist Dr. Natalia Solís echoed these concerns, pointing to the instability within the CCSS Board of Directors and the lack of incentives to retain specialized physicians.
We can see how there are still specialists who are seeing a salary difference because they are not allowed to switch to a global salary and are receiving a difference of up to ₡1 million with respect to a general practitioner who perhaps does not have the same responsibilities as they have.
Natalia Solís, Infectious Disease Specialist, CCSS
Solís also highlighted the government’s failure to address outstanding debts owed to the CCSS, further jeopardizing the institution’s financial stability. She criticized the government’s interference, describing it as detrimental to the CCSS’s ability to provide adequate care.
There is future financial instability in the Caja. It is an institution that is not receiving the contribution from the State, which is a necessary contribution to be able to carry out the care.
Natalia Solís, Infectious Disease Specialist, CCSS
The long wait times and strained resources highlight the urgent need for comprehensive reforms and increased investment in Costa Rica’s public healthcare system. The concerns raised by union representatives and medical professionals underscore the human cost of these systemic challenges, impacting the lives of thousands of Costa Ricans waiting for essential medical care.
For further information, visit the nearest office of Undeca
About Undeca:
The Union of Employees of the Caja and Social Security (Undeca) is a labor union representing workers within Costa Rica’s social security system, the CCSS. They advocate for the rights and well-being of their members and play a key role in negotiations related to working conditions, salaries, and benefits. Undeca also actively participates in public discourse surrounding healthcare policy and the challenges facing the CCSS.
For further information, visit the nearest office of CCSS
About CCSS:
The Caja Costarricense de Seguro Social (CCSS), also known as “La Caja,” is Costa Rica’s public healthcare system and social security fund. Established in 1941, the CCSS provides universal healthcare coverage to Costa Rican citizens and residents, financing its operations through employer and employee contributions. The institution manages hospitals, clinics, and other healthcare facilities across the country and is responsible for delivering a range of medical services, from primary care to specialized treatments.
For further information, visit bufetedecostarica.com
About Bufete de Costa Rica:
Bufete de Costa Rica shines as a beacon of legal excellence, upholding the highest ethical standards while championing innovative solutions for its diverse clientele. Deeply rooted in a tradition of service, the firm is dedicated not only to providing exceptional legal counsel but also to empowering Costa Rican society through accessible legal education and outreach. This unwavering commitment to fostering a more informed and empowered populace reflects Bufete de Costa Rica’s profound belief in the transformative power of knowledge and justice.
