To prevent any situation of suspension of services in health centers in the country in case of a strike, the Ombudsman, Montserrat Solano, asked the Costa Rican Department of Social Security a contingency plan.
Through a letter sent last June, 22nd, the ombudsman’s office requested a report on the coordinated measures to ensure health care in such cases.
In addition, the official requested a list of potentially affected patients in all the services provided by the CCSS, considering scheduled appointment; the measures envisaged to ensure the provision of drugs in different pharmacies and the contingency plans from each medical center.
Solano said users are entitled to be informed in advance about a possible suspension of public services to avoid the figures from last April’s strike: 7,874 appointments not carried out, 796 procedures not carried out and 378 surgeries not carried out, because 6,446 because officials were on strike.