Volunteer doctors, people who had already retired and an initial investment of ¢536 million allow the Costa Rican Social Security Fund (CCSS) to continue providing some of the medical services, amid the work stoppage of some employees, already on its fourth day.
There are other workers who also work overtime in order to serve the majority of the insured.
Mario Ruiz, medical manager of the CCSS, informed that on Thursday, August 8th, there were retired professionals working at the Hospital de Cartago and that this situation also ocurred on Wednesday at the San Carlos Hospital. In this medical center in the North Zone, even a dermatologist assisted a surgery to avoid another suspended procedure.
In addition, Roberto Cervantes, general manager of the CCSS, said the institution has an emergency fund of ¢37 billion, of which ¢560 million have been spent to address the lack of personnel and, therefore, of services to the insured.