Q COSTA RICA — The problem of waiting lists at public hospitals of the Caja Costarricense de Seguro Social (CCSS) is worsening rapidly.
An audit report of the institution, released by Legislator Ángela Aguilar of the Partido Liberación Nacional (PLN), reveals alarming data.
Between December 2024 and March 2026, waiting lists increased from 1,094,093 to 1,440,547 cases, a cumulative increase of 346,454 people (+31.7%).
By March of this year, the surgical waiting list had reached 204,622 cases, with an average wait time of 441 days; the procedural waiting list had reached 873,572 cases, with an average wait time of 207 days. The outpatient waiting list, which reached 362,356 cases, with an average wait time of 540 days, for a total of 1,440,547 cases awaiting care.
“The audit reveals deficiencies in the planning, implementation, and monitoring of the measures adopted, attributing direct responsibility to the Administration for the lack of effective results. Problems in resource allocation, the absence of control mechanisms, and weak accountability stand out, which have limited the achievement of the established objectives,” the legislator stated.
The main increase, according to the report, was concentrated in diagnostic and therapeutic procedures, which grew by 287,925 cases (+49.2%), while surgical waiting lists increased by 19,077 cases (+10.3%) and specialized outpatient consultations by 39,455 cases (+12.2%).
Meanwhile, waiting times worsened across all categories, most notably for outpatient appointments, where the average wait increased from 386 to 540 days—an additional five months.
“This deterioration reflects the fact that the measures outlined in the 2023 Roadmap were not implemented, with serious consequences for users, who face delays that affect their quality of life and the progress of their health,” the legislator added.
In this regard, the legislator demanded accountability from Mónica Taylor, the current president of the CCSS.
Previously, Taylor had stated that, essentially, nothing could be done to eliminate waiting lists.
That is why, last May, Taylor presented a comprehensive plan to address the problem.
This represents a shift in approach to waiting list management, moving from a fragmented model to one coordinated with central oversight. This will allow for a more efficient distribution of institutional resources and ensure more equitable care for the user population.
The official added that this initiative responds to the need to address a long-standing problem in a structural way.
“Here, the CCSS must act as a single network. It’s not about what corresponds to each (medical) center, but about guaranteeing that all users receive timely care, regardless of where they come from,” Taylor stated.