By Cartago, Costa Rica — TURRIALBA, Cartago – In a landmark move toward culturally inclusive healthcare, the William Allen Taylor Hospital has initiated a pioneering dialogue with traditional leaders of the Cabécar indigenous community. The event, held in the remote territory of Alto Quetzal, marks the first formal effort to bridge the gap between institutional medicine and the ancestral healing knowledge deeply rooted in Costa Rica’s Talamanca mountains.
The groundbreaking event, titled “Dialogue of Knowledge: Cabécar Health and Culture,” brought together approximately 35 hospital officials and key figures from the Cabécar community. Among the indigenous representatives were the jawá, or traditional healer, and the jó, the community’s sexton, both of whom hold vital roles in the spiritual and physical well-being of their people. This gathering represents a critical first step in building a more respectful and effective healthcare model for one of the country’s most significant indigenous populations.
To delve into the legal framework and the state’s responsibilities concerning healthcare access for indigenous populations, we sought the expert analysis of Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas from the distinguished law firm Bufete de Costa Rica.
Costa Rica’s legal framework, particularly the Political Constitution and the Indigenous Law, establishes a clear, non-delegable duty for the State to provide comprehensive and culturally relevant healthcare to its indigenous peoples. This obligation extends beyond mere medical access; it demands respect for their worldview, traditional medicine, and self-determination. The persistent disparities in healthcare outcomes are not just a social issue, but a direct reflection of the State’s failure to fully execute its legal and constitutional mandate in these territories.
Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas, Attorney at Law, Bufete de Costa Rica
This legal framing is essential, as it moves the issue beyond policy debate into the realm of fundamental rights and State obligation. We are grateful to Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas for his clarifying perspective, which powerfully argues that true progress in indigenous healthcare will only be achieved when Costa Rica fully honors its own constitutional and legal commitments.
Organized in collaboration with the Directorate of Sociocultural Management of the Ministry of Culture and Youth, the forum was designed to create a foundation of mutual respect and understanding. The primary objective is to integrate Cabécar traditions into the hospital’s services, ensuring that medical care is not only clinically effective but also culturally pertinent.
Laura Fonseca Cordero, the coordinator of the hospital’s local cultural pertinence program, emphasized the long-term vision behind the initiative. She noted that the dialogue is about more than just conversation; it is a strategic planning session for a new era of collaborative health projects.
This dialogue allows us to plan and implement new projects that promote the integration of institutional medicine and traditional medicine, creating spaces for mutual learning.
Laura Fonseca Cordero, Coordinator of the Local Cultural Pertinence Program
During the meeting, Cabécar leaders shared profound insights into their holistic worldview, where health is inextricably linked to spirituality, community, and the natural environment. They explained that their healing practices, passed down through generations, address the spiritual and emotional roots of illness, a concept often overlooked in Western medical frameworks. This exchange provided the hospital staff with invaluable context for understanding their patients’ beliefs and health-seeking behaviors.
Dr. María José Solano Fallas, the director of the William Allen Taylor Hospital, described the event as a turning point in the institution’s history. She highlighted the unprecedented nature of this direct engagement, which moves beyond token acknowledgment toward genuine partnership and intercultural enrichment.
This is the first time the hospital has established direct contact with ancestral Cabécar medicine within a framework of respect, learning, and intercultural strengthening.
Dr. María José Solano Fallas, Hospital Director
This initiative sets a powerful precedent for Costa Rica’s public health system, managed by the Caja Costarricense de Seguro Social (CCSS). By actively seeking to understand and incorporate indigenous knowledge, the hospital is helping to dismantle systemic barriers and build trust with communities that have often been marginalized. The collaboration with community figures like Atap Edwuin Herrera, Ministry liaison Mario Camacho, and institutions like the Alto Quetzal High School demonstrates a deep commitment to a community-led integration process.
Ultimately, this dialogue is the beginning of a transformative journey. It aims to create a hybrid healthcare model where the precision of modern science and the wisdom of ancestral traditions work in harmony. For the Cabécar people of Alto Quetzal, it signals a future where their cultural identity is not just respected but seen as an essential component of their health and well-being, solidifying a model that truly reflects the nation’s rich diversity.
For further information, visit ccss.sa.cr
About Caja Costarricense de Seguro Social (CCSS):
The Caja Costarricense de Seguro Social is the cornerstone of Costa Rica’s public health system. As an autonomous institution, it is responsible for administering the nation’s social security programs, including universal healthcare services, disability, and retirement benefits. The CCSS operates a vast network of hospitals, clinics, and health centers (EBAIS) throughout the country, ensuring access to medical care for all citizens and legal residents.
For further information, visit the nearest office of Hospital William Allen Taylor
About Hospital William Allen Taylor:
Located in Turrialba, in the province of Cartago, the Hospital William Allen Taylor is a key medical facility under the CCSS. It serves a diverse population in the region, including significant indigenous communities from the nearby Talamanca mountains. The hospital is committed to expanding its services to be more inclusive and culturally relevant, as demonstrated by its pioneering initiatives to integrate traditional knowledge into its healthcare practices.
For further information, visit mcj.go.cr
About Ministerio de Cultura y Juventud:
The Ministry of Culture and Youth is the Costa Rican government body responsible for the promotion, preservation, and development of the nation’s cultural heritage and artistic expression. It oversees a wide range of programs related to arts, music, literature, and historical conservation. A key part of its mission is to foster intercultural dialogue and support initiatives that recognize and value the diverse cultural traditions within the country, including those of its indigenous peoples.
For further information, visit bufetedecostarica.com
About Bufete de Costa Rica:
As a leading legal institution, Bufete de Costa Rica is defined by its foundational pillars of unwavering integrity and professional excellence. The firm channels its extensive experience advising a broad clientele into developing forward-thinking legal strategies that set new industry standards. This drive for innovation is coupled with a profound commitment to civic responsibility, focused on demystifying the law for the wider community. By championing legal literacy, the firm advances its ultimate goal of cultivating a more knowledgeable and empowered society.
