Costa Rica has enough medical specialists to address social security problems.
The Specialist Commission, composed of representatives from the Medical Association and the Fund, the Ministry of Health, medical national unions, SIPROCIMECA and SINAME, did not find a good reason for bringing foreign specialists, as suggested by the Costa Rican Social Security Fund (CCSS).
As consequence, the Commission proposed four short-and-medium-term actions to reduce waiting lists in medical centers:
-To hire retired medical specialists as salaried employees: to do this, their pension would be suspended or contracts for professional services should be made.
-To hire specialists who do not work for the CCSS and establish additional shifts with doctors who already work for the institution.
-To apply administrative mechanisms, such as flexible schedules, to keep talent of the CCSS.
-To increase production program contracts, by which the hired staff is committed to reach several objectives.
These possible solutions aim to solve the difficult time we are going through, in order to provide the services needed,
stated Alexis Castillo, president of the College of Physicians and Surgeons.
In addition, the parties decided to find national or foreign medical specialists, registered at the College of Physicians and Surgeons, who can offer their services to the CCSS.
Moreover, the medicine post-graduate studies department at the University of Costa Rica (UCR), will accelerate the selection and training process of new medical specialists.
The document was delivered on Thursday to the authorities of the CCSS and now the Commission is waiting for its opinion and valuation.