Costa Rica Social Security applies for $400 million loan from World Bank

The Costa Rican Social Security System (CCSS or Caja) has begun the process to obtain a loan for $400 million from the World Bank, which it says will be used for various repairs and construction of medical centers.

CCSS says its top priorities are digitization of medical records, and infrastructure work at the Cartago Hospital, Turrialba Hospital, San Juan de Dios Hospital, and most recently, the Mosenor Sanabria Hospital in Puntarenas.

The institution does not rule out the possibility of completely rebuilding the Puntarenas Hospital.  A budget of 500 million colones (about $1 million USD) was set for the repairs of medical centers affected by the September 5^th earthquake.

The CCSS is also negotiating with the Treasury (Hacienda), asking that it donate – as payment of a debt owed to CCSS – a piece of land located in Barranca, Puntarenas, for the construction of a new hospital.