Medical and Health Care in Costa Rica
The health system in Costa Rica is comparable
to the system found in North America, only
at a fraction of the price. The Social Security
System provides universal insurance benefits,
covering medical services, disability, maternity,
old-age pensions and death. All employees
contribute nine percent of their salary to
the health system. The country spends about
ten percent of its Gross National Product
on health care. Additionally, many Costa
Rican doctors were trained in North America
and Europe.
Costa Rica has attracted clientele
who come
for plastic surgery, cataract
operations,
spa treatments, dental work,
and even some
heart transplant surgery, as
the costs for
treatment are low and of a high
quality.
Many people flock to Cost Rica
for plastic
surgery, which can cost half
of what is charged
in the United States or Europe
for the same
procedure. Costa Rica also plays
host to
several conferences on the subject
each year,
attracting attendees from all
over the world
to learn the latest and greatest
methods.
English and Spanish-speaking
Doctors often
have bilingual staff in their
private offices.
The available equipment and techniques
in
the country are state of the
art.
Any foreign national visiting
the country
has the right to receive health
attention
at hospitals and clinics in case
of an emergency,
sudden illness or a chronic disease.
Emergency Telephone Numbers:
-Emergency 911
-Red Cross 128
-Transit Police 222-9330
-INS Transit Accidents 800-800-8000
-Fire 118
-Police 222-1365
-Information 124
Hospitals/Clinics in Costa Rica:
Clinica Biblica
Ave. 14, Calle
Tel: [506] 257-5252
Fax: [506] 255-4947
Clinica Catolica
Barrio Esquivel Bonilla, Guadalupe
Tel: [506] 283-6616
Hospital Cima San Jose
Carretera Prospero Fernandez
Escazú, San José
Tel: [506] 208-1000
Fax: [506] 108-1001
Hospital Nacional de Ninos
Ave. 8, Calles 18/20
Tel: [506] 222-0122
San Juan de Dios Hospital
Ave. Ctrl., Calle 14
Tel: [506] 257-6282
MEDICAL FACILITIES AND HEALTH
INFORMATION:
Medical care in San Jose is adequate,
but
may be more limited in areas
outside of San
Jose. Travelers may also find
most prescription
and over-the-counter medications
available
in San Jose. Doctors and hospitals
often
expect immediate cash payment
for health
services, and U.S. medical insurance
is not
always valid outside the United
States. A
list of local doctors and medical
facilities
can be found at the website of
the U.S. Embassy
in San Jose, at http://usembassy.or.cr.
An
ambulance may be summoned by
calling 911.
The best-equipped ambulances
are called “unidad
avanzada.”
Information on vaccinations and other health
precautions, such as safe food and water
precautions and insect bite protection, may
be obtained from the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention’s hotline for international
travelers at 1-877-FYI-TRIP (1-877-394-8747)
or via the CDC’s internet site at http://www.cdc.gov/travel.
For information about outbreaks of infectious
diseases abroad consult the World Health
Organization’s (WHO) website at http://www.who.int/en.
Further health information for travelers
is available at http://www.who.int/ith.
MEDICAL INSURANCE: The Department of State
strongly urges Americans to consult with
their medical insurance company prior to
traveling abroad to confirm whether their
policy applies overseas and whether it will
cover emergency expenses such as a medical
evacuation. Please see our information on
medical insurance overseas.
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