The private Hospital of Clinica Biblica in San Jose, Costa Rica is one of the top hospitals in all of Latin America
General Medical and Police Services
Medical care in San Jose is adequate at the public hospitals, but super at the private hospital. Areas outside of San Jose have more limited medical services, and road conditions increase driving times to hospitals for routine or critical medical care. Doctors and hospitals often expect immediate cash or credit card payment for medical services. Local Cruz Roja (Red Cross) ambulances, usually the first responders to accidents, are minimally-equipped to handle emergencies.
U.S. medical insurance is not always valid in Costa Rica and many insurance companies are now covering Costa Rica, so check with your insurance broker. Supplemental medical insurance with specific overseas coverage, including a provision for medical evacuation, has been useful in many emergencies.
Costa Rica does employ a 911 emergency assistance system and it is the best in all of Latin America. However, response time varies widely in the remote areas; it can take up to several hours. But in the major cities, it is surprisingly fast. Read more... (1063 words, 3 images, estimated 4:15 mins reading time)
People with Type 2 diabetes now have an option that many renowned medical experts world-wide consider a sensational breakthrough against the disease: bariatric (weight loss) surgery.
The millions of Americans and Canadians – and people in Europe and elsewhere – who suffer from Type 2 diabetes now have an option that many renowned medical experts world-wide consider a sensational breakthrough against the disease: bariatric (weight loss) surgery, performed right here in Costa Rica.
Bariatric surgery to cure T2D is relatively new; there is not much publicity about the procedure, and it is not wholly embraced everywhere. The huge pharmaceutical and medical supplies corporations, for obvious reasons, are very vocal in their opposition. However, as more results come in and more and more closely monitored studies are completed and published in the literature, medical opinion is gradually swinging in its favor. The American Diabetes Society and Diabetes UK, among others, are on record calling for bariatric surgery to be used as a treatment for T2D.
Bariatric surgery was pioneered in the United States in the 1950s to bring about weight loss in the morbidly obese. But in a high percentage of cases, many severely and generally obese patients undergoing bariatric surgery for weight loss also found that as a consequence, their Type 2 diabetes was either eliminated altogether or the symptoms drastically reduced. Read more... (617 words, 2 images, estimated 2:28 mins reading time)
This week Costa Rican Health Ministry banned experimental stem cell treatment and ordered Institute of Cellular Medicine to cease treating spinal injuries and degenerative diseases
Back in Oct, 2009, we wrote how suddenly there was major increase of foreigners heading to Costa Rica for stem cell treatments that involved everything from ailments, to bone fractures, to multiple sclerosis.
The reason was simple; when people heard that, the International Society of Stem Cell research claiming, US clinical trials were “ambiguous” and treatments based on anecdotal success could be exploitative, it slammed the US doors on hope.
So when Costa Rica doctors offered the groundbreaking treatments to medical tourism, free from scrutiny, it drew thousands of westerners as well as locals.
With this increase, Costa Rican legislators started to put the finishing touches on a law to promote and regulate adult stem cell research and treatment across a spectrum of diseases. For a while it looked like the government was encouraging these medical professionals.
Unfortunately, this week things changed. The Costa Rican Health Ministry banned experimental stem cell treatment and ordered a client, Institute of Cellular Medicine to cease treating spinal injuries and degenerative diseases such as multiple sclerosis and diabetes. Read more... (539 words, 1 image, estimated 2:09 mins reading time)
Wellness has become very popular in Costa Rica
During the last several years, a new generation of vacationers has been demanding more from hotels than ever before, and a new type of travel is rising in popularity.
This new group of travelers desires more than before from their vacation, and so the tourism sector is providing many options, such as hotels and resorts with Yoga and focus on health at their core.
Yoga, Wellness Centers and Medical Tourism are becoming a great alternative throughout tropical climates like Costa Rica and Hawaii.
Costa Rica’s popular tourist towns, such as Santa Teresa or Montezuma usually have many places to practice yoga, with more added yearly, and these yoga retreat centers compete for which can have the most calming and relaxing place to practice.
Boutique Hotels such as Anamaya in Montezuma, Latitude-10 in Santa Teresa, or La Cusinga Eco Lodge in Dominical, now usually have a yoga deck with an ocean view. This type of tropical space for practicing yoga is very photogenic, which helps a hotel attract new customers, since so many travelers primarily use photos from internet sites to pick their accommodations. Read more... (511 words, 1 image, estimated 2:03 mins reading time)
Cost of Medical Treatment in Costa Rica can be a 70% saving from that of the U.S.
With the cost of medical on the rise, medical tourists from the United States, Canada and Europe should definitely compare the cost of medical treatment in Costa Rica to what it would cost at home. You can reach Costa Rica from just about everywhere in the U.S. and Canada in 12 hours or less; from Europe in well under a day. Costa Rica has eminently qualified doctors, excellent hospitals, attractive recovery centers, affordable costs, and provides an opportunity for a memorable vacation. Places like Costa Rican Medical Tours offer package deals for both vacation and treatment.
Here are just a couple of reason why Costa Rica is becoming a desire place to have medical treatment. Read more... (470 words, 1 image, estimated 1:53 mins reading time)
- The cost of medical treatment in Costa Rica can range from a third to even a fourth of what it can cost in the United States and Canada.
- As required by law, medical practitioners carry liability insurance at all times, giving patients protection and coverage from malpractice.
