You are seeing more an more hotels rooms with the "NO FUMA" sign
If you smoke, you may have problems in Costa Rica. Back in May, 2009 the government imposed a tax hike on cigarettes which pretty much outraged smokers when the price jumped about 30%, then it followed with a year later the countries first international say “No” To Smoking Day. A few days later thousands of school children in Cartago gathered to unite against smoking at “Fello” Meza Stadium – one of the stadiums to ban smoking.
Laws on smoking narrow down to the option of the business and not government enforcement; in other words, pretty much all of the larger tourist corporations are jumping on the anti-smoking bandwagon, especially in the downtown section of San Jose.
At San Jose International Airport, many think it is government operation. However, it is run, maintain, administrated, and operated by a private company, Alterra Partners, who have elected to have a smoking room below the Burger King food court. Read more... (703 words, 3 images, estimated 2:49 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)
U.S. Expats may find themselves paying twice for Health Care
With the passing and the presidential signing of the U.S. Health Care Reform bill and assuming that it does become a law (13 states filed lawsuits in the US, stating it was unconstitutional) Costa Rica expats may have a serious problem. They may be forced to carry health insurance in both the U.S. and Costa Rica, I guess you can say a form of double taxation.
According to the health bill, ALL citizens of the U.S. will be forced to carry health insurance at a cost that is a percentage of your income, which is based on Social Security, IRA, retirement funds, interest, dividend income, business income etc etc. With that said, the IRS has been named as the official collector and enforcer, meaning they are the ones that are going to make sure you paid it. The IRS will have the power to lien your property, garnish your wages including your social security check, and do whatever means possible to collect and enforce these premiums as they have done for taxes. Read more... (510 words, 1 image, estimated 2:02 mins reading time)
Costa Rica will host the first Medical and Well-Being Conference.
The cat is out of the bag for Costa Rica Health. This week the Central American country found out it will host the first Medical and Well-Being Tourism Conference in late April, 2010. This will reunited some 350 plus operators of health services from more than 20 countries, including insurance companies, self-insurance companies, medical tourism and wellness agencies and investors in the industry. Many U.S. insurance companies are taking a hard look at what Costa Rica and other Latin countries are going to offer to help reduce or provide alternative services with the troubled health care in the U.S.
The conference will focus their attention on health centers throughout Latin-American and visit local hospitals, wellness centers and doctors. They will also be very much interested in the growth of online well care services, who offer their expertise in providing medical tourism packages. Obviously this has gotten much support from government agencies, like the Ministry of Tourism and Ministry of Competitiveness and Regulations Improvement. Both heads of these ministries are excited about the conference. Read more... (624 words, 1 image, estimated 2:30 mins reading time)
Source Yahoo News
Costa Rican President Oscar Arias learns he has Swine Flu
SAN JOSE, Costa Rica – Nobel Peace laureate and Costa Rican President Oscar Arias said Tuesday that he has swine flu, showing that not even a head of state is safe from the virus that has caused worldwide concern but relatively few deaths.
The 69-year-old president and Nobel Peace Prize winner said in a statement that he was quarantined at home and is being treated with the anti-flu medicine oseltamivir.
“The pandemic makes no distinctions,” Arias said. “I am one more case in this country and I am being submitted to the recommendations that health authorities have established for the entire population.”
Arias suffers from asthma and is at higher risk than most, but was in good enough health to continue working.
“Aside from the discomfort of the fever and sore throat, I feel in good shape and in full capacity to carry out my work by telecommuting,” Arias said in the statement.
The president had flu symptoms since Sunday, but participated in public activities as late as Tuesday morning, when he appeared at a call center. Read more... (216 words, 1 image, estimated 52 secs reading time)
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