The Clinica Biblica recently gained international accreditation for the high level of quality of medical service offered at the hospital. The status was awarded on Jan. 14 by the Joint Commission International, a non-government entity that is in charge of supervising hospital services in the United States.

Costa Rica News — Clinica Biblica Gains International Accreditation

Authorities from the hospital said that this accreditation will increase Costa Rica’s popularity as a medical tourism destination. Private hospitals in the country offer this type of medicine primarily to U.S. citizens without social security that cannot afford medical attention in their own country. For example, the hospital website advertises knee replacements for $10,650, which would cost more than double in the United States.

The Clinica Biblica attends 3,750 foreigners monthly (about 25% of the patients), and performs 25 surgeries on foreign patients each month. The majority of the patients come for hip and knee replacements and hernia operations.

With this accreditation, which standardizes the quality of services offered in Costa Rica with those of the United States, the hospital should see an increase in international demand. The Hospital Director said that according to calculations, once this this recognition is obtained, there is a 20% increase in the demand for services.

The hospital hopes that this will also help them to add to the two exclusive agreements that they currently have with insurance companies in the United States.

The prestigious recognition has only been awarded to 136 other hospitals outside of the United States. The Clinica Biblica, which invested $200,000 to become certified, is currently the only hospital in Costa Rica with the certification.

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Filed under: Costa Rica News on January 22nd, 2008