During the first quarter of this year, from January to March, Social Security has increased the number of surgeries and medical appointments due to the decrease in cases of covid-19.

In Costa Rica are about 12,000 active covid-19 cases. Of these, 297 patients are being treated in public hospitals, where 42 patients are in ICU’s in delicate health conditions (ages range from 1 to 89-year-old) and 255 patients are in recovery rooms. Many of the remaining infected patients are quarantined in their homes. The  Health Ministry reported 8,421 deaths listed as covid-19 related, approximately a 1% death rate.

According to Social Security statistics, during that quarter more than 42,000 surgeries have been performed, exceeding by 7,000 the number of surgeries performed during the same period last year.

Another fact is the recovery from medical appointments. During that period, doctors completed more than 3.5 million medical appointments. The data exceeds over 480,000 medical appointments that were made in 2019, before the pandemic.

Authorities report having advanced the surgery date for over 4,000 patients, more than 59,000 medical treatments and over 18,000 medical appointments.

However, Social Security has the challenge of reducing the long-delayed time that patients must wait to receive their surgery. Currently, the waiting time for surgery is 535 days or 1.4 years.

Social Security has launched several massive medical service campaigns to recover the medical services delayed in the last two years due to the pandemic. Recently, the organization launched a mammograms campaign in Upala. 

Also, the public hospital in Golfito Canton began its knee replacement surgery campaign.

The Alajuela Hospital started its campaign to advance medical appointments for diagnostic tests.

The Puntarenas Hospital launched its campaigns to attend to 1,500 patients.

---------------
What have you heard about expats with pending surgeries at Social Security? We would like to know your thoughts on this story. Send your comments to news@amcostarica.com