During the 2010 World Cup, Caja hospitals registered 87,359 people given sick leave. This year 58,580 people received sick leave -- a drop of 28,779 requests despite Costa Rica's success in the Brazil-hosted tournament.
Public hospitals in Costa Rica can refuse non-emergency care for self-employed workers who are behind in payments to the Social Security System, or Caja, the Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court, or Sala IV, ruled this week.
The passion most Ticos have for football has officials at the Social Security System worried. Last week the Caja issued an order to all doctors at public hospitals to restrict permission for sick days throughout the month. Apparently employees' health tends to deteriorate during the World Cup.
Judicial Investigation Police agents simultaneously raided the hospital, the main offices of the Social Security System, or Caja, and the offices of medical supply company Synthes.
Costa Rican authorities seized 48 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine in Tibás, marking our country’s largest synthetic drug seizure. The operation, conducted by the Drug...