No menu items!

COSTA RICA'S LEADING ENGLISH LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER

HomeTopicsHealthFaulty electrical system forces closing of all operating rooms at San José's...

Faulty electrical system forces closing of all operating rooms at San José’s Hospital Mexico

A faulty 46-year-old electrical system is to blame for a decision by administrators at San José’s public Hospital México to shut down all 14 operating rooms as of Friday, the hospital’s medical director, Douglas Montero, said.

The same problem forced administrators to close seven operating rooms last week. The move comes after an engineering study found low voltage as a culprit.

“The study found that there is no certainty the rooms’ systems are working properly,” Montero said on Friday.

As a contingency measure medical staff will perform surgeries in the mornings and evenings at the Heredia Hospital and at the facilities of the National Rehabilitation Center.

Hospital México currently has a waiting list of 7,000 pending surgeries, Montero said.

“In an emergency, we can enable one operating room in the Obstetrics Department and one in Intensive Care,” he said.

Montero could not say how long it would take to reopen the rooms, but he estimated that repairs could take up to three months.

Hospital officials also will be forced to reschedule a large number of surgeries. They said they expected that rescheduled dates would be as close as possible to original appointments.

Said Montero: “We will perform surgeries in early morning hours and during evening shifts to help reduce the waiting list.”

Trending Now

Costa Rica Stars in Variety’s Top Ten Film Locations

Variety Magazine named our small piece of paradise a top filming destination in its latest featured article, “Ten Locations to Die For,” spotlighting our...

Chiquita Brands Leaves Panama Amid Protests, Talks Underway to Resume

Laid-off workers from the U.S.-based banana company Chiquita Brands said on Monday that they are hoping for the company’s return to Panama, after it...

Costa Rica’s Congress Expands Organized Crime Probe, Summons Ex-Presidents

Costa Rica’s Legislative Assembly is intensifying its investigation into alleged links between public officials and organized crime. Earlier today, the Special Permanent Commission on...

An Expat’s Take: 5 Burning Questions About Life in Costa Rica Right Now

Have you been keeping up with the various events taking place in Costa Rica? There is always something interesting going down, and here are...

Costa Rica’s Pride March 2025 Defies Restrictions and Celebrates Diversity

A large crowd gathered in Paseo Colón, San José, to participate in the LGBTIQ+ Pride March 2025. It began at noon, as people marched...

Costa Rica Pushes USA to the Brink but Falls in Penalty Heartbreak

If you just caught the end of the USA vs. Costa Rica Gold Cup quarterfinal, you probably feel like you need another cup of...
L. Arias
L. Arias
Reporter | The Tico Times |
spot_img
Costa Rica Tours
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Travel Insurance
Costa Rica Rocking Chait
Costa Rica Travel

Latest News from Costa Rica