Editing Costa Rica (section)

== Health ==
{{Main|Health care in Costa Rica}}
[[File:Life expectancy in Costa Rica.svg|thumb|Development of life expectancy in Costa Rica]]
[[File:Hospital Calderón Guardia, Costa Rica.JPG|thumb|Hospital Calderón Guardia, named after the [[Rafael Ángel Calderón Guardia|president]] who instituted [[universal health care]] across the country in 1941]]
According to the [[UNDP]], in 2010, the [[life expectancy]] at birth for Costa Ricans was 79.3 years.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://hdrstats.undp.org/en/countries/profiles/CRI.html |author=Human Development Report |author-link=Human Development Report |publisher=[[UNDP]] |title=International Human Development Indicators |access-date=18 June 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120625092634/http://hdrstats.undp.org/en/countries/profiles/CRI.html |archive-date=25 June 2012}}</ref> The [[Nicoya Peninsula]] is considered one of the [[Blue Zone]]s in the world, where people commonly live active lives past the age of 100 years.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2008/04/080414-longest-lived.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080416114031/http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2008/04/080414-longest-lived.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=16 April 2008|title=Long-Lived Costa Ricans Offer Secrets to Reaching 100|magazine=[[National Geographic Magazine|National Geographic]] News|date=14 April 2008|author=Anne Casselman|access-date=4 March 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Technology/LivingLonger/story?id=2843049&page=1|title=Report from the 'Blue Zone': Why Do People Live Long in Costa Rica?|work=ABC News|author=Dan Buettner|author-link=Dan Buettner|date=2 February 2007|access-date=4 March 2011|archive-date=11 May 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110511054437/https://abcnews.go.com/Technology/LivingLonger/story?id=2843049&page=1|url-status=live}}</ref> The [[New Economics Foundation]] (NEF) ranked Costa Rica first in its 2009 [[Happy Planet Index]], and once again in 2012. The index measures the health and happiness they produce per unit of environmental input.<ref name=HPI01>{{cite news|url=http://www.nacion.com/2012-06-14/AldeaGlobal/Costa-Rica-es-nuevamente-el-pais-mas-feliz-del-mundo--segun-indice--Happy-Planet-.aspx|title=Costa Rica es nuevamente el país más feliz del mundo, según índice 'Happy Planet'|language=es|trans-title=Costa Rica once again the happiest nation of the world, according to the Happy Planet Index|author=Irene Rodríguez|work=[[La Nación (San José)|La Nación]]|date=14 June 2012|access-date=14 June 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130504202401/http://www.nacion.com/2012-06-14/AldeaGlobal/Costa-Rica-es-nuevamente-el-pais-mas-feliz-del-mundo--segun-indice--Happy-Planet-.aspx|archive-date=4 May 2013}}</ref><ref name="HPI02">{{cite news |author=Harvey |first=Fiona |author-link=Fiona Harvey |date=14 June 2012 |title=UK citizens better off than EU counterparts, says happiness index |url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2012/jun/14/uk-happy-index-developed-world |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131019203216/http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2012/jun/14/uk-happy-index-developed-world |archive-date=19 October 2013 |access-date=14 June 2012 |work=[[The Guardian]]}}</ref> According to NEF, Costa Rica's lead is due to its very high [[life expectancy]] which is second highest in [[the Americas]], and higher than the United States. The country also experienced well-being higher than many richer nations and a per capita [[ecological footprint]] one-third the size of the United States'.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.neweconomics.org/blog/2012/06/14/measuring-what-matters-the-happy-planet-index-2012|title=Measuring what matters: the Happy Planet Index 2012|author=Nic Marks|publisher=[[New Economics Foundation]]|date=14 June 2012|access-date=17 June 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120618032057/http://www.neweconomics.org/blog/2012/06/14/measuring-what-matters-the-happy-planet-index-2012|archive-date=18 June 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In 2002, there were 0.58 new general practitioner (medical) consultations 0.33 new specialist consultations per capita, and a hospital admission rate of 8.1%. Preventive health care is also successful. In 2002, 96% of Costa Rican women used some form of contraception, and [[antenatal care]] services were provided to 87% of all pregnant women. All children under one have access to well-baby clinics, and the immunization coverage rate in 2020 was above 95% for all antigens.<ref name=measles-vaccine>{{Cite web|url=https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SH.IMM.HEPB?locations=CR|access-date=2022-07-21|website=[[The World Bank|World Bank]]|title=Immunization, measles (% of children ages 12–23 months) – Costa Rica|archive-date=21 July 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220721211539/https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SH.IMM.HEPB?locations=CR|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=hepb-vaccine>{{Cite web|url=https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SH.IMM.HEPB?locations=CR|access-date=2022-07-21|website=[[The World Bank|World Bank]]|title=Immunization, HepB3 (% of one-year-old children) – Costa Rica|archive-date=21 July 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220721211539/https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SH.IMM.HEPB?locations=CR|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=dpt-vaccine>{{Cite web|url=https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SH.IMM.IDPT?locations=CR|access-date=2022-07-21|website=[[The World Bank|World Bank]]|title=Immunization, DPT (% of children ages 12–23 months) – Costa Rica|archive-date=21 July 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220721211538/https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SH.IMM.IDPT?locations=CR|url-status=live}}</ref> Costa Rica has a very low [[malaria]] incidence of 48 per 100,000 in 2000 and no reported cases of [[measles]] in 2002. The perinatal mortality rate dropped from 12.0 per 1000 in 1972 to 5.4 per 1000 in 2001.<ref>{{cite journal |doi=10.2105/AJPH.2006.099598 |last1=Unger |first1=Jean-Pierre |last2=Buitrón |first2=René |last3=Soors |first3=Werner |last4=Soors |pmc=2376989 |year=2008 |first4=W. |title=Costa Rica: Achievements of a Heterodox Health Policy |journal=American Journal of Public Health |volume=98 |issue=4 |pages=636–643 |url=http://ajph.aphapublications.org/cgi/content/full/98/4/636 |pmid=17901439 |access-date=21 September 2010 |archive-date=11 May 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110511103340/http://ajph.aphapublications.org/cgi/content/full/98/4/636 |url-status=live }}</ref>
[[File:Hospital CIMA. Escazú. Costa Rica.JPG|thumb|[[Hospital CIMA]] in Escazú]]
Costa Rica has been cited as Central America's great health success story.<ref>{{Cite book|last=OECD|date=22 November 2017|chapter=Executive summary|chapter-url=https://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/social-issues-migration-health/oecd-reviews-of-health-systems-costa-rica-2017/executive-summary_9789264281653-3-en|language=en|pages=11–12|doi=10.1787/9789264281653-3-en|title=OECD Reviews of Health Systems: Costa Rica 2017|isbn=9789264281639|access-date=22 January 2019|archive-date=23 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190123075826/https://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/social-issues-migration-health/oecd-reviews-of-health-systems-costa-rica-2017/executive-summary_9789264281653-3-en|url-status=live}}</ref> Its healthcare system is ranked higher than that of the United States, despite Costa Rica's much lower GDP.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Jacob |first1=Brian |year=2009 |title=CLOSING THE GAPS: The Challenge to Protect Costa Rica's Health Care System |journal=The Georgetown Public Policy Review |issue=77 |url=https://litigation-essentials.lexisnexis.com/webcd/app?action=DocumentDisplay&crawlid=1&doctype=cite&docid=15+Geo.+Public+Pol%27y+Rev.+77&srctype=smi&srcid=3B15&key=c9ac6e737b89580642db61a5300fe8fc |access-date=19 May 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130117025358/https://litigation-essentials.lexisnexis.com/webcd/app?action=DocumentDisplay&crawlid=1&doctype=cite&docid=15+Geo.+Public+Pol%27y+Rev.+77&srctype=smi&srcid=3B15&key=c9ac6e737b89580642db61a5300fe8fc |archive-date=17 January 2013 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Before 1940, government hospitals and charities provided most health care. But since the 1941 creation of the Social Insurance Administration (''Caja Costarricense de Seguro Social'' – CCSS), Costa Rica has provided [[universal health care]] to its wage-earning residents, with coverage extended to dependants over time. In 1973, the CCSS took over administration of all 29 of the country's public hospitals and all health care, also launching a Rural Health Program (''Programa de Salud Rural'') for primary care in rural areas, later extended to primary care services nationwide. In 1993, laws were passed to enable elected health boards that represented health consumers, social insurance representatives, employers, and social organizations. By 2000, social health insurance coverage was available to 82% of the Costa Rican population. Each health committee manages an area equivalent to one of the 83 administrative cantons of Costa Rica. There is limited use of private, for-profit services (around 14.4% of the national total health expenditure). About 7% of GDP is allocated to the health sector, and over 70% is government-funded.

Primary health care facilities in Costa Rica include health clinics, with a [[general practitioner]], nurse, clerk, pharmacist, and a primary health technician<!---, around one per two population--- Clarify?---->. In 2008, there were five specialty national hospitals, three general national hospitals, seven regional hospitals, 13 peripheral hospitals, and 10 major clinics serving as referral centers for primary care clinics, which also deliver biopsychosocial services, family and community medical services, and promotion and prevention programs. Patients can choose private health care to avoid waiting lists.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mateo |first=Don |date=2023-07-21 |title=Costa Rica Expat Living: Healthcare |url=https://ticotimes.net/2023/07/21/costa-rica-expat-living-healthcare?utm_source=chatgpt.com |access-date=2025-04-01 |website=The Tico Times {{!}} Costa Rica News {{!}} Travel {{!}} Real Estate |language=en-US}}</ref>

Costa Rica is among the Latin American countries that have become popular destinations for [[medical tourism]].<ref name=Herrick>{{Cite book|last= Herrick|first=Devon M.|title=Medical Tourism: Global Competition in Health Care|year =2007|pages= 4–6, 9|publisher=National Center for Policy Analysis, Dallas, Texas| isbn =978-1-56808-178-6|url=http://www.unf.edu/brooks/center/pdfs/Medical%20Tourism%20Herrick.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110720093845/http://www.unf.edu/brooks/center/pdfs/Medical%20Tourism%20Herrick.pdf|archive-date=20 July 2011}}</ref><ref name=Bookman>{{Cite book|last1=Bookman| first1=Milica Z.|last2=Bookman |first2=Karla R.| title =Medical Tourism in Developing Countries| year =2007| pages= 3–4, 58, 95, and 134–135|publisher=[[Palgrave Macmillan]], New York|isbn =978-0-230-60006-5}}</ref> In 2006, Costa Rica received 150,000 foreigners that came for medical treatment.<ref name=Herrick/><ref name=Bookman/><ref name=Stats>{{cite web|url=http://www.health-tourism.com/medical-tourism/statistics/|title=Medical Tourism Statistics and Facts|publisher=Health-Tourism.com|access-date=2 March 2011|archive-date=2 March 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110302083839/http://www.health-tourism.com/medical-tourism/statistics|url-status=live}}</ref> Costa Rica is particularly attractive to Americans due to geographic proximity, high quality of medical services, and lower medical costs.<ref name=Bookman/>

In the 2024 Global Hunger Index, Costa Rica is one of 22 countries with a GHI score of less than 5.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Global Hunger Index Scores by 2024 GHI Rank |url=https://www.globalhungerindex.org/ranking.html |access-date=2024-12-13 |website=Global Hunger Index (GHI) - peer-reviewed annual publication designed to comprehensively measure and track hunger at the global, regional, and country levels |language=en}}</ref>