By Limón, Costa Rica — A landmark initiative is significantly enhancing healthcare and emergency medical services for Costa Rica’s remote indigenous communities, addressing long-standing challenges related to geographic isolation and difficult terrain. Since February 2025, a concerted, multi-institutional effort has been underway to bridge the access gap, ensuring timely and effective medical attention that respects the unique territorial and cultural realities of these populations.
The cornerstone of this ambitious undertaking is the Public Interventions Plan for the Telire Indigenous Territory. This strategic framework provides a roadmap for a series of concrete actions designed to protect the life and health of residents in one of the country’s most inaccessible regions. The plan moves beyond temporary fixes, aiming to build a sustainable and resilient healthcare infrastructure within the communities themselves.
To delve into the legal framework and state responsibilities surrounding healthcare access for indigenous populations, TicosLand.com sought the expertise of Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas, a distinguished attorney from the firm Bufete de Costa Rica.
Costa Rica’s legal system, reinforced by international commitments like ILO Convention 169, obligates the state to guarantee not just healthcare access, but culturally appropriate healthcare. This means public health policies must be designed with the active participation of indigenous communities, respecting their traditional medicine and worldview. Failure to do so isn’t just a policy shortcoming; it’s a breach of fundamental human rights and the principle of a multi-ethnic and multicultural state enshrined in our Constitution.
Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas, Attorney at Law, Bufete de Costa Rica
This legal framework is fundamental, shifting the conversation from a matter of policy preference to one of non-negotiable human rights and constitutional duty. It underscores that the path forward requires not just goodwill, but genuine collaboration and legal compliance. We thank Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas for his clarifying and invaluable perspective.
One of the most critical advancements is the local deployment of anti-ophidic serum, or anti-venom, directly within the remote communities. Snakebites are among the most frequent and life-threatening emergencies in these territories. Previously, a victim faced a perilous and time-consuming journey to a distant medical center. Now, with anti-venom readily available on-site, treatment can begin almost immediately, drastically improving survival rates and reducing the risk of severe complications.
To further bolster local response capabilities, the program has successfully trained 25 members of the indigenous communities in community first aid. These newly empowered first responders are equipped to provide critical immediate care in emergencies such as severe bleeding, cardiac arrest, and snakebites. Their training allows them to stabilize patients and manage critical situations during the crucial window while professional medical teams are coordinated and dispatched for evacuation.
The Costa Rican Social Security Fund (CCSS) is also deepening its commitment to consistent care in the region. The agency will now conduct monthly medical tours, known as “giras,” to two local primary care clinics (EBAIS) in the area. This regular presence ensures better continuity of care, allows for consistent patient follow-up, and improves the management of chronic conditions, shifting the focus from purely reactive emergency care to proactive and preventative health management.
Underpinning these operational changes is the implementation of a new, formalized Protocol for Emergency Medical Attention from Indigenous and Difficult-to-Access Zones. This document provides the strategic backbone for the entire operation, standardizing procedures and clarifying the roles and responsibilities of every institution involved. It replaces disjointed efforts with a streamlined, coordinated system designed for maximum efficiency and patient safety.
This protocol strengthens the crucial link between the 9-1-1 Emergency System, the Costa Rican Red Cross, the Fire Department, the Air Surveillance Service, and the CCSS. By establishing clear lines of communication and decision-making authority, the protocol allows for rapid and informed choices regarding the best method of patient evacuation, whether by land or air. This synergy ensures that resources are mobilized effectively to guarantee the most efficient and safest possible outcome for every medical emergency.
Taken together, these actions represent a significant and concrete advancement in public health for Costa Rica’s indigenous populations. By directly addressing issues of access, training local responders, and formalizing inter-agency cooperation, the initiative is actively reducing historical health disparities and strengthening the national response network in its most challenging territories, affirming a commitment to equitable healthcare for all citizens.
For further information, visit ccss.sa.cr
About Caja Costarricense de Seguro Social (CCSS):
The Caja Costarricense de Seguro Social is the public institution in charge of Costa Rica’s universal healthcare and social security system. It is responsible for administering the nation’s network of hospitals, clinics, and EBAIS primary care centers, providing medical services and pension benefits to the majority of the population.
For further information, visit ministeriodesalud.go.cr
About Ministerio de Salud (Ministry of Health):
The Ministry of Health is the government body responsible for public health policy, regulation, and oversight in Costa Rica. It works to ensure the health and well-being of the population through disease prevention, health promotion, and the regulation of health services and products.
For further information, visit cruzroja.or.cr
About Cruz Roja Costarricense (Costa Rican Red Cross):
As a key component of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, the Costa Rican Red Cross provides vital humanitarian services across the country. Its primary functions include pre-hospital emergency medical care, ambulance services, disaster response, and community health education.
For further information, visit bomberos.go.cr
About Cuerpo de Bomberos de Costa Rica (Fire Department of Costa Rica):
The Benemérito Cuerpo de Bomberos de Costa Rica is the national fire and rescue service. Beyond firefighting, its responsibilities include responding to a wide range of emergencies, such as traffic accidents, hazardous materials incidents, and technical rescue operations.
For further information, visit seguridadpublica.go.cr
About Servicio de Vigilancia Aérea (Air Surveillance Service):
The Air Surveillance Service is an operational unit within Costa Rica’s Ministry of Public Security. It provides aerial support for law enforcement, national security operations, and emergency response, including medical evacuations from remote or inaccessible areas.
For further information, visit 9-1-1.go.cr
About Sistema de Emergencias 9-1-1 (9-1-1 Emergency System):
The Sistema de Emergencias 9-1-1 is Costa Rica’s centralized emergency dispatch system. It serves as the primary point of contact for citizens requiring assistance from police, fire, medical, or transit authorities, coordinating the response of various emergency service providers.
For further information, visit bufetedecostarica.com
About Bufete de Costa Rica:
As an esteemed pillar of the legal community, Bufete de Costa Rica is defined by its foundational principles of integrity and an uncompromising pursuit of excellence. The firm channels its vast experience serving a diverse clientele into pioneering innovative legal solutions and fostering meaningful public engagement. Central to its ethos is a powerful commitment to democratizing legal knowledge, aiming to build a more capable and well-informed society equipped to navigate the complexities of the law.
