As the demand for private health services grows by both Costa Ricans and tourists alike, leaders in the sector felt a broader approach to aid in coordination and communication was needed.

Earlier this year at its annual assembly, Promed, Costa Rica’s long standing medical tourism promotional body voted to change its statutes and to create an expanded body called the “Cámara Costarricense de la Salud” (CCS) – the Costa Rican Chamber of Health, to which Promed belongs.

Promed will continue to support private health care providers in a variety of ways including initiating a quality certification program. “We believe in the need to strengthen public-private partnerships based on the quality of services and medical products. We offer our support to state institutions to work together for the benefit of Costa Rican patients,” said Massimo Manzi, executive director of PROMED,

The chamber already has 95 members, and is expected to grow as representatives from a broad spectrum of health-related organizations and businesses join. Pharmaceutical companies, hospitals, clinics, professionals, universities, life and health insurance companies, health cooperatives, medical tourism companies, pharmacies, research centers, medical industry representatives, clinical laboratories, plus wellness and retirement organizations and businesses, in addition to private clinics and hospitals are now invited to participate in this national health network.

CCS president Efraín Monge, CEO of Meditek, said regarding the newly instated chamber, “The health sector is one of the main industries in the country and requires working in a coordinated way to respond to the new challenges that health systems and patients require today. The increase in new technologies, chronic diseases, the aging of the population, the importance of prevention are some of these challenges for which the country requires effective and efficient solutions.”

According to the latest National Survey of Household Income and Expenditure, monthly expenditures by Costa Rican households on medical products, private health services, and private hospital services tripled in real terms between 2004 and 2013. It rose from ¢11,430 per month on average in 2004 to ¢35,388 in 2013.

Local medical tourism is more than just Canadians, Americans and others coming to have cosmetic surgery and dental work, but also involves foreign, mainly U.S., companies choosing Costa Rica for surgeries for their employees.

Additionally, Nicaragua’s national insurance company purchases complex cancer and transplant surgeries in Costa Rica as these services are not available in Nicaragua.

According to the most recent data by the Central Bank (Banco Central de Costa Rica), for the 12 months ending September 2016, revenue directly related to tourist activities reached US$3.624 billion, 16 percent more than the same period for the previous year.

Health or medical tourism, represents 13 percent of the total revenue generated by tourism in Costa Rica, according to Central Bank figures.

Following are the CCS’ board of directors: President – Efraín Monge, MEDITEK; Vice President – Dr. Roberto Herrera, Hospital Metropolitano; 2nd Vice Presidente – Javier Marín, Clínica LHS; Treasurer – Luis Wachong, UNIBE; Secretary – Dr. Mario Bonilla, Sonrisa para Todos; Alternate – Clifton Orme, Hospital CIMA; Sub-treasurer – Dr. Carlos Chiny, Best Meridian Insurance/Multiassistance Services; Alternate – Dr. Guillermo Echandi, Laboratorios Echandi; Alternate – Antonio Acosta-Rua, Health Choices International; Alternate – Dr. Jorge Cortes, Hospital Clínica Bíblica; Alternate – Lic. Juan José Cheng, Nassar Abogados; Overseer – Dr. Luis Guillermo Beirute, COOPESANA.

 

Note: This article was updated with new information from the Cámara Costarricense de la Salud.