The Costa Rican Red Cross is considering eliminating overnight shifts at 20 local branches as financial pressure continues to affect its emergency-response network. The measure has not been approved and the organization has not identified which branches could be affected. Red Cross officials said the branches under review are those with relatively low numbers of nighttime emergency calls.
If the changes move forward, overnight emergencies in those communities would be handled by crews from neighboring branches. The proposal comes as the Red Cross faces a growing financial shortfall. As of July, the organization reported a deficit of about ₡943 million ($1.9 million) and has projected a funding gap of around ₡5 billion ($10 million) for 2027.
Red Cross officials have said that 66 of the organization’s 134 branches are currently under financial pressure. The financial problems have already led to service changes. In September, the Red Cross closed branches in San Rafael and San Pablo de Heredia and transferred coverage for those areas to neighboring branches in Santo Domingo and San Isidro.
The possible elimination of overnight shifts at another 20 branches would be a broader operational change and could affect nighttime ambulance response times in some communities. Red Cross General Manager Walter Fallas said the organization is reviewing locations where emergency activity is lower during overnight hours as it looks for ways to reduce expenses while maintaining coverage.
The Costa Rican Red Cross provides ambulance services, responds to traffic accidents and medical emergencies, and plays a major role in rescues and disaster response. The organization handles hundreds of thousands of emergency calls each year but maintaining its nationwide network has become increasingly expensive. According to Red Cross estimates, operating a basic local committee can cost between ₡110 million and ₡120 million ($220,000 to $240,000) annually.
The organization receives part of its funding from public sources, but it also depends heavily on donations, fundraising, service contracts, training programs and other income. The financial situation has also become an issue in the Legislative Assembly. Lawmakers have discussed measures aimed at improving Red Cross funding, while some legislators have called on the government to release approximately ₡3.3 billion ($6.6 million) they say is owed to the organization.
The Red Cross has also stepped up fundraising efforts through its national “Colecta que Salva Vidas” campaign. For now, nighttime operations remain unchanged. The organization has not announced when a final decision will be made on the 20 branches under review, and no list of potentially affected locations has been released.
