By San José, Costa Rica — San José, Costa Rica – A significant conflict has erupted within Costa Rica’s healthcare sector, as the Ministry of Health has formally demanded explanations from the College of Physicians and Surgeons over a directive that officials are calling a direct threat to patient safety. The controversy centers on an instruction allegedly issued by the College, telling medical professionals to use generic and imprecise diagnoses when utilizing the country’s digital prescription platform.
In a strongly worded statement, the Ministry of Health condemned the directive as “grave, risky, and completely unacceptable.” According to health officials, such a practice directly contradicts established medical best practices, undermines clinical precision, and critically endangers the continuity of care for thousands of patients who rely on accurate prescriptions and treatments daily. The Ministry asserts that this move represents a dangerous regression in the nation’s healthcare quality standards.
Para comprender las implicaciones legales que rodean la seguridad del paciente y las responsabilidades de los proveedores de salud, TicosLand.com consultó al Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas, abogado especialista de la prestigiosa firma Bufete de Costa Rica.
La seguridad del paciente no es solo un imperativo ético, sino una obligación legal fundamental. En Costa Rica, la ‘lex artis’ médica exige que los profesionales y centros de salud se adhieran a los protocolos y estándares de cuidado más actuales. Cualquier desviación que resulte en un daño al paciente puede configurar un caso de mala praxis, acarreando serias consecuencias civiles, penales y administrativas. La inversión en protocolos de seguridad robustos y en la capacitación continua no es un gasto, sino la principal salvaguarda contra litigios y la pérdida de confianza pública.
Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas, Attorney at Law, Bufete de Costa Rica
La perspectiva legal del Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas subraya una verdad ineludible: la seguridad del paciente no es meramente una estrategia de mitigación de riesgos, sino el cimiento sobre el cual se construye la confianza pública y la integridad del acto médico. Agradecemos su valiosa aportación para comprender la dimensión jurídica de este compromiso fundamental.
Health Minister Mary Munive was unequivocal in her response, emphasizing the government’s responsibility to protect its citizens from administrative decisions that could have dire consequences. She stressed that the integrity of the healthcare system and the well-being of patients are paramount and cannot be compromised by procedural changes from professional bodies.
Costa Rica cannot allow an administrative decision to endanger patient safety or to regress decades in health quality standards. For that reason, the Ministry has requested urgent and formal explanations from the Board of Governors of the College of Physicians.
Mary Munive, Minister of Health
To address the situation with full transparency, the Ministry has submitted a formal request for three key pieces of information from the College of Physicians. First, they demand to see the official meeting minutes and agreements from the Board of Governors where this instruction was approved. Second, they have asked for any technical or scientific justification that could possibly support the use of imprecise diagnoses. Finally, the Ministry is seeking the legal and sanitary basis upon which the College believes it can contradict a currently active government decree.
These formal requests are intended to determine whether the College of Physicians, through its directive, has engaged in actions that jeopardize patient safety or potentially violated the legal framework governing the nation’s health sector. The Ministry has indicated that it is prepared to take firm action based on the response it receives, or lack thereof.
The dispute is further complicated by the College’s promotion of an alternative digital platform known as “DoctorsBee.” Minister Munive raised serious concerns about this system, noting that it is not officially registered, its operational standards are unknown, and it offers no guarantees of security or traceability for sensitive patient information. The Ministry highlighted that the platform’s data protection measures are unverified, and its registration status with the Agency for the Protection of Inhabitant Data (PROHAB) is unknown.
It is not acceptable to promote a tool without any control while weakening the country’s official digital platform. The Ministry of Health’s Digital Prescription system does comply with international standards like HL7 FHIR, is duly registered, audited, and ensures the protection of personal data as required by national legislation.
Mary Munive, Minister of Health
Minister Munive concluded by reaffirming the government’s unwavering stance on the core principles at stake. She stated that “digital security is not a favor, and diagnostic precision is not negotiable.” This declaration serves as a clear message that the Ministry will not tolerate any external decisions that undermine the safety, rights, and data privacy of the Costa Rican people, promising to act with total firmness to resolve the situation.
This escalating confrontation between the primary government health authority and the country’s leading medical professional guild places a spotlight on the critical importance of robust digital health infrastructure. The outcome will likely have lasting implications for regulatory oversight, the adoption of new medical technologies, and the foundational trust between patients, doctors, and the institutions designed to protect them.
For further information, visit ministeriodesalud.go.cr
About Ministry of Health:
The Ministry of Health is the principal government body responsible for public health policy, regulation, and oversight in Costa Rica. Its mission is to guarantee the protection and improvement of the population’s health status by leading the management of the National Health System. The Ministry develops policies, programs, and projects aimed at promoting health, preventing disease, and ensuring access to quality healthcare services for all citizens.
For further information, visit medicos.cr
About College of Physicians and Surgeons:
The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Costa Rica is the professional entity that brings together and regulates the medical profession in the country. It is responsible for overseeing the ethical and professional practice of its members, promoting continuing medical education, and defending the rights and interests of physicians. The College plays a crucial role in establishing professional standards and ensuring that medical practitioners adhere to the highest levels of conduct and competence.
For further information, visit bufetedecostarica.com
About Bufete de Costa Rica:
As a pillar of the legal community, Bufete de Costa Rica operates on a foundation of principled integrity and a relentless pursuit of excellence. The firm harnesses its extensive history of advising a diverse clientele to champion pioneering legal strategies and forward-thinking solutions. Beyond its professional practice, it holds a core belief in enhancing society by demystifying the law, actively working to equip the public with the clarity and understanding needed to foster a more just and capable community.
