Chen Ku CH, Chen-Sandi D. The Health System in Costa Rica: Focus on the Management of Diabetes Mellitus.
Cureus 2023;
15:e40084. [PMID:
37425606 PMCID:
PMC10327611 DOI:
10.7759/cureus.40084]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/06/2023] [Indexed: 07/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Costa Rica's health system was established in 1941 by the president at the time, Rafael Angel Calderon Guardia. Since then, the public health system has expanded, and a private system was also introduced. Diabetes management differs greatly between both systems, as well as the medications available. Publicly, the system faces many challenges when treating diabetes; including a limited range and selection of medications, as well as a blatant lack of support (nutritional, physical, and psychological). Privately, the costs adjacent to a diabetes diagnosis represent an unbearable burden to some patients, with medications such as a weekly dose of 1.0 mg of semaglutide representing approximately 47.5% of Costa Rica's minimum wage. Despite its flaws, both systems provide the Costa Rican population with options for treatment. The Caja Costarricense de Seguro Social covers around 90% of the population, which puts Costa Rica on par with developed countries.
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