Costa Rica’s Ombudsman’s Office (Defensoria de los Habitantes) said this week that the top complaint received by their office is related to access to health services.

The figure came to light in the agency’s 2016-2017 Annual Report which analyzes progress and gaps in meeting recommendations of the United Nations human rights committees.

Part of these recommendations refer to the need to ensure the universalization of social security, reduce waiting lists for health care services, as well as the need to ensure adequate equipment and necessary personnel for the adequate provision of medical services.

Almost a quarter (24 percent) of the cases responded to by the Ombudsman’s Office in 2016 were for situations reported against the Costa Rican Social Security Agency (CCSS) for problems relating to care in hospitals, local health clinics, specialty clinics, and other entities under the purview of the CCSS. Although the CCSS has put forward plans to address them, its implementation has not yielded satisfactory and convincing results for the Ombud’s office, said the report.

The report was presented yesterday to the president of the Legislative Assembly.

The total number of requests for assistance relating to any government service in 2016 was 22,887. The CCSS was the public institution with the most complaints or consultations with the Ombudsman.

The Joint Institute of Social Assistance (IMAS) was the second highest in complaints (comprising 18 percent of cases received), followed by municipalities at almost 7 percent,  and the Ministry of Public Education which comprised a little over 5 percent of the complaints.

The sociodemographic groups that most resort to the Ombudsman’s Office with their issues are people from rural areas or marginal urban areas, and who come from poorer income groups.