The Social Security Service (CCSS) announced it will be investing over $1.6 billion USD in infrastructure and equipment throughout the entire national territory during the 2019-2022 period.

The information was released this Wednesday by President of Costa Rica Carlos Alvarado, the executive president of CCSS, doctor Roman Macaya and architect Gabriela Murillo, manager of infrastructure. During the announcement, the participants explained that this investment seeks to respond to the need’s existent in different communities in the country and in this way close service gaps.

“The capacity that we have as a country to make an investment of this magnitude to benefit the health of all people, is impressive, with this we consolidate our solidarity model which is recognized worldwide”, commented president Alvarado.

According to the projects included in the portfolio, 31% of the works of equipment and infrastructure will be done in the first level of attention, such as EBAIS (local community clinics) and health areas, another part in hospitals and 38% in the second level of attention of middle complexity attention centers.

Doctor Macaya explained that part of the institutional plan is to reinforce the services offered in the suburbs with the purpose to decongest the third level of attention and avoid people having to travel to San Jose to carry out diagnosis studies and therapeutic procedures.

This involved the construction of at least 50 EBAIS in different areas of the country.

Also, the East Tower of the Calderon Guardia Hospital, the Emergency service of the San Carlos Hospital, the surgery, birth and intensive care building of the Mexico Hospital and the Turrialba, Puntarenas and Cartago hospitals.

In addition to infrastructure this investment also includes the purchase of equipment for different health establishments, some of the equipment includes, anesthesia machines, x-rays, autoclave, ultrasounds, tomography equipment, pulmonary fans, dental units, among others; some of this equipment will replace other older technology that is already past its useful life.

Macaya highlighted that this investment represents the strengthening of the sanitary infrastructure and the reinforcement of human resource all with the objective of closing gaps and improving the quality of service and the opportunity of attention in the entire country.