The Office of the Ombudsman urged the Ministry of Health to declare a health emergency due to the effects of the strike on hospitals. Up to now, 66,610 appointments and 2,339 surgeries have been suspended.
On Friday, the Ministry of Health rejected the request made by the Ombudsman to declare an emergency. Minister Giselle Amador said this declaration is issued only when national catastrophes occur or when most of the country is being affected by a certain situation. Ombudsman Juan Cordero disagrees.
A declaration of sanitary emergency would enable the Ministry to request the participation of various actors that would help mitigate the effects caused by the strike,”
said Cordero on Monday.
Through the same document, the Ombudsman said the response from Minister Amador surprised him because it seems that only now, after 15 days of strike, will the Ministry of Health ask the Costa Rican Social Security Fund (CCSS) for a report on the plans and strategies to face the current emergency.
The Ombudsman requested copies of the procedures that will be sent to the CCSS.