Over the past few years, Costa Rica has become known as a major place in the growing tourism market in tourism. Costa Rica is just a short 2 or 3 hour flight from several US cities, making it an excellent option for North Americans seeking quality affordable healthcare. Two renowned private hospitals in the capital of Costa Rica in San José have capitalized their international status as world-class health care centers and now offer several services to their international clients at a fraction of the cost one would expect in the United States. Both the Clinica Bibliica hospital in the center of San Jose and the CIMA hospital in the suburbs of Escazu offer health and wellness packages, as well as cosmetic surgery and all kinds of medical services. Both hospitals also offer really affordable maternity packages. It is also worth noting that as an additional bonus for foreigners, both Clinica Biblica and CIMA accept a number of foreign insurance plans to meet the needs of their clients.
However, quality healthcare in Costa Rica is not only for medical tourists; residents also benefit. In order to better serve the residents of Guanacaste, it was recently announced that it is planning to open a new private hospital near the International Airport in Liberia. Full details still have to be published, but the new hospital will be linked to the Clinica Biblica hospital or the CIMA hospital. Both hospitals submitted proposals for the construction of a new branch in Liberia, and it is safe to say that, depending on which hospital will be built in Liberia, the health options that the new facility will bring in Guanacaste will be excellent and will benefit both residents and tourists like.
Another interesting development for the health of the region is the recent addition of the San Rafael Arcangel Medical Center in Liberia. The first stage of the Medical Center was opened in September 2006 by specialists in the field of gynecology, pediatrics, general surgery, vascular surgery, urology, geriatrics, psychology and nutrition. The reaction was incredible, and as the center continued to grow, many specialists from the new specialties asked to become part of the Medical Center. San Rafael Archangel will soon offer medical services 24 hours a day for a wide range of specialties. The last phase of the Center includes plans for the construction of a medical-surgical tower with a wing for childbirth, a surgical wing and modern emergency equipment. The center seeks to receive the first option of medical care in Costa Rica after private hospitals in San José.
At reasonable prices, good medical care is also available through the resort towns of Guanacaste. Services such as Emergencias 2000, located in Uacas and Tamarindo-Villarreal, and seaside ambulance services, also in Uacas and Tamarindo-Villarreal, offer 24-hour emergency medical services and counseling. Both clinics also have laboratories and their own ambulances. In addition, there are many other medical and dental clinics in the area that offer excellent care, as well as several acupuncturists and massage therapists who also practice in the area. With all of these services available nearby, residents and tourists can feel at ease knowing that they will be taken care of if they become ill or experience an emergency here on the Gold Coast.
My family used the services at the Clinica Biblica hospital in San José, and we also used the services of several private clinics near our house near Tamarindo. We have nothing but positive moments to say about how we in Costa Rica are very far away. Our daughter was born in Clinica Bibliica in February 2008, and my husband and I both felt completely comfortable and felt that my daughter and I received first-class care. In addition, several of the doctors we contacted spoke English, which was extra comfort for me. To avoid a trip to San Jose, we now plan to deliver our daughter to a pediatrician at the San Rafael Argelk Clinic in Liberia for her examination. We are very happy to know that we are saving money on our family’s medical bills, without compromising the quality of the medical care we receive.
Gold Coast is experiencing an influx of foreign residents, and the health care opportunities in this area are expanding rapidly to meet the needs of all Guanacaste residents. With an excellent private hospital arriving in Liberia, as well as more and more small private clinics available in the area, soon the Gold Coast residents will not even want to leave Guanacaste to get the quality medical care they need.
