7 foreign medical specialists have had their permits to practice in Costa Rica suspended because they did not pass the test put forth by the College of Physicians which issues them.
This has left many regional hospitals without adequate staff. The Hospital of Puntarenas is left without a single neurosurgeon. Guapiles is without a gynecologist to cover emergencies after 4pm. The Tony Facio Hospital, in Limón, has to send all pregnant women in risk to deliver in San Jose.
Some of these specialists came to the country following a call from the Ministry of Health and the Costa Rican Social Security Fund which recognized a shortage of medical specialists. Because of that shortage the College of Physicians was called on to issue temporary permits.
These permits, however, cannot be extended without passing a test on knowledge of general medicine. Doing so would put the entity in a legal situation. If some malpractice happened they would have to answer as to why they gave the doctor the permit.
