Medication in Costa Rica

1777POSTS

6 years ago

Good morning everyone,

Whether it's a simple cold or a chronic illness, medication and medicine use vary from country to country and culture to culture.

When you are used to certain brands or types of drugs, being in a country like Costa Rica with different rules can affect your daily well-being.

Some drugs also differ in name, price, dosage, active molecule, so we would like to hear your opinion on these issues:

Have you ever had difficulties finding familiar or useful medicines for your health in your host country?

Have you ever been faced with a shortage of medicines in Costa Rica?

Would you have said that in Costa Rica drugs are more or less expensive than in your home country? Do you find them more or less effective or of similar quality?

What is the place of alternative medicines in your host country? Have you ever used them?

Thank you in advance for your feedback,

Loïc

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neffdave Active member

53POSTS

5 years ago

Hello and thanks for your post. I am planning a slow move to CR and your questions are excellent.

kohlerias ViP

1572POSTS

5 years ago

Once a legal resident and affiliated with CAJA, your CAJA Rx's will be provided at no extra charge as is any hospital visits. Many expats also purchase private medical insurance as there is often a long wait for specialist appointments and surgeries.

Note that one cannot choose which doctor they want to see nor which clinic they must use.

Many medications provided through CAJA, the socialized medical system, are generic. A CAJA doctor can put in a requisition to get the specific medication, however that is not always possible.

Costs tend to be lower in CR but aspirins for instance are much more expensive. Also anyone can and do go to a pharmacy and request some 'pills' but only half a dozen at at time.

Vitamins and supplements are also expensive and are not permitted to be imported by mail or courier unless you have a very specific request by a certified Costa Rican doctor. You can bring them with you when flying in, but not in a large amount.

https://aeropost.com/site/en/getit-restricted-shipping

It is very important for anyone intending to move to CR, that has a chronic medical condition requiring a specific medication is to thoroughly check if the medication is indeed available both through CAJA and the private sector. Many have been caught in that predicament.