On Tuesday, Social Security proposed a strategy to lower the hundreds of thousands of patients on the waiting list for surgery or medical procedures.

The new patient care plan, according to Marta Eugenia Esquivel-Rodriguez, Social Security president, aims to establish a more efficient public health system.

The new social security strategy, with the motto "Less waiting time and better service," aims to provide patients with prompt medical treatment.

According to Social Security statistics, over 400,000 individuals are waiting for a doctor's appointment for surgery or medical treatment.

This year, the approach aims to complete the pending medical treatment for more than 108,000 people. In addition, in 2024, they expect to perform the awaiting medical operation on more than 150,000 people. And establish compliance with the upcoming medical treatment for about 185,000 people who will have to wait until 2025.

To achieve its goals, the new plan involves steps such as investing around $375 million in recruiting additional experts and investing in more equipment to perform the needed medical attention. In addition, more private medical services will be hired to treat patients who are currently awaiting surgery.

As part of its strategy, authorities also indicated the possibility of obtaining more funding through loans from the World Bank and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).

This week, a massive medical services campaign is taking place at the National Stadium located in San José Province, as part of the Social Security strategies to finish all non-emergency medical services that were put off between 2020 and 2022 when the epidemic was at its worst, authorities said.

In May, Social Security declared a state of emergency due to the long waiting lists for patients trying to make appointments with a specialist. Patients have to wait for weeks, months or even years to receive medical attention.

However, in July Social Security reached an agreement with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to provide health services in public clinics and hospitals to those who are refugee applicants or are currently living in Costa Rica as refugees.