Dr. Alejandro Ayon Lacayo, Director of the Centro Internacional de Medicina (CIMA), was detained at the Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO) in Alajuela earlier this morning. According to a report by Lady Rojas of online news daily Costa Rica Hoy, Dr. Ayon was taken into custody by Airport Police officers from Air Surveillance, a special unit of Fuerza Publica, Costa Rica’s national police force.

SJO Airport Police Chief Carlos Viquez explained that the arrest took place in the early hours of Thursday:

“That is correct. At this moment, he is wanted by the White Collar Crimes Prosecutor, and this happened at six in the morning. We are waiting on agents from the OIJ (the Judicial Investigations Police) to pick him up.”

Dr. Ayon will be investigated for fraud. No further details were available on the alleged offense or on when Dr. Ayon will be released.

The CIMA Hospital in Escazu is an iconic medical center among expats and medical tourists who arrive in droves to Costa Rica for quality, low-cost procedures. There is also a CIMA medical center in the province of Guanacaste, which has been widely expected to become one of the most exclusive hospitals for expats and health travelers. As previously reported by The Costa Rica Star:

There are two major medical facilities in Costa Rica that proudly display Joint Commission International (JCI) certification: CIMA Hospital and Clinica Biblica.

JCI evaluations focus on the well-being, convenience, comfort, and safety of the patient. Inpatient facilities in Costa Rica that receive this coveted accreditation excel in providing physical security to patients and their loved ones who come to visit them. The evaluation criteria extends to the medical equipment used, the quality of the nutritional services, amenities such as upscale accommodations, cable television, secure Wi-Fi connections, playrooms for children, and the experience of the medical staff. The fact that many physicians in Costa Rica travel to JCI hospitals abroad for medical and language training speaks volumes about the country as a health tourism destination.

The accreditation of a hospital by the JCI extends to the physicians and smaller medical centers affiliated with the institution; for example, the CIMA Hospital in Guanacaste would only work with outside cosmetic surgery centers that meet the JCI requirements and standards of care.

For more information about CIMA and other private medical centers in Costa Rica, please read our previous articles on this subject.