Health

Refuges and asylum-seekers consistently identify access to healthcare as a critical need. The Costa Rican Social Security Fund (CCSS) offers free universal medical services for emergency care, as well as for minors, pregnant and lactating women (although people UNHCR serves who meet the criteria have reported barriers). The rest of the population must access health services through other insurance modalities with the Costa Rican Social Security, which are generally covered by employers or as a voluntary payment. However, the population of concern without regular employment or other income to cover the insurance costs, face recurring health care needs. In response, UNHCR signed an agreement with the Costa Rican Social Security in 2019 to cover 6,000 refugees and asylum seekers per year. This agreement has been renewed, offering the same coverage since 2020. UNHCR will work to consolidate this project, with the goal of progresivley phasing out and institutionalizing coverage of more refugees and asylum-seekers by the Government in the future. 

In the northern area, UNHCR’ s strategy  includes (i) sensitization and training activities to medical staff in the northern cantons, (ii) advocacy with health authorities to include people of concern in health prevention campaigns, such as malaria/dengue/COVID/pap smear for women, (iii) improvement of infrastructure (health centers) to assist host communities and people of concern in a regular context and on emergency basis, (iv) donation of tents to enhance health assistance in rural communities. As part of the advocacy actions, UNHCR participates in the health institutional local network as observers to ensure inclusion of populations of concern and assistance during natural disasters.