Medical Tourism in Costa Rica

Due to its stunning beaches, world-class medical facilities, and low prices, Costa Rica has become one of the most popular spots for medical tourism in the world. Medical Tourism in Costa Rica brings thousands of people to the country each year, and in 2006, more than 150,000 people traveled to the country for medical procedures. There are nearly 30 different hospitals throughout Costa Rica and many of them are JCI-accredited.

What you need to know about Medical Tourism in Costa Rica

Costa Rica has state-of-the-art hospitals and top doctors that can offer you a variety of medical and cosmetic procedures at a significant discount.

Risks

As with any medical surgery, there are risks involved with medical tourism in Costa Rica. While the country does have a number of top-ranked hospitals, you should research your doctor, procedure, and the hospital before your trip. Try to find real reviews from former patients to make sure they are satisfied and to get a better idea of what you can expect. With most medical tourism, one of the primary risks involves the travel to and from the destination. Prolonged airplane flights have been shown to increase the risk for blood clots and embolisms in at-risk individuals. Another is the increased risk for infection during surgery. As is the case with most medical tourism trips, you will not have the same grounds for legal recourse in the event of malpractice as you would have in the United States. This is part of the reason why medical care in Costa Rica is so affordable. Doctors are not required to hold malpractice insurance like they are in the U.S. This should inspire you to perform diligent research about your operation, the doctor, and your destination before you take your trip. Many doctors in Costa Rica are actually educated in the United States and have the same equipment and tools that doctors in the U.S. have.

Cost Savings

The total amount of savings will depend on your particular procedure, your choice of doctor, and the extent of your stay.

Quality of Care

With JCI-accredited facilities and many doctors who have been educated in the U.S. and Canada, Costa Rica offers comparable care to what you would find in the U.S. but at a much lower price. JCI or the Joint Commission International, is a non-profit organization whose purpose is to assess the health care quality of medical facilities around the globe. When a hospital or clinic becomes JCI-accredited it is considered to have a gold-standard level of care that rivals the best in the world.

Popular Facilities in San Jose

CIMA Catolica Bilbica