Doctor’s visit in Liberia
The crossroads in Liberia, fast food haven; photo by David W. Smith
In the hottest town in Costa Rica I saw a doctor about my ear problems. They’d been feeling plugged up for weeks. We were staying right in town, so I just wandered around and found Clinica San Rafael Arcangel, which looked clean and professional and had an air-conditioned waiting room.
A head and neck specialist (cirujano de cabeza y cuello) could see me that afternoon, so I paid my 30,000 colones (about $60) for the initial consultation, surprised at the high price. Costa Ricans I spoke with in the waiting room said they had paid the same for an initial consultations–it was worth it to them not to have to endure the long waits at the Caja, the national health care system.
I saw Dr. Carlos Granera Umana, who had trained in San Jose but relocated to Guanacaste early in his professional career. He liked everything about the place except the heat. “Stay inside in the middle of the day,” he counseled.
And the price?
“We’ve been charging that for years and are about ready to raise the prices. A lot of middle class professional have moved to Liberia from San Jose and for them, the rate is not an issue.”
Dr. Granera was kind and gentle and he managed to unplug one ear and make the other one a little better. I’ll check out more medical care in San Jose and David might see a dentist here.
Costa Rica-style directions to the Clinica San Rafael Archangel in Liberia:
from the Escuela Asucion Esquivel, go 100 meters East and then 75 South.
Telephone: 2666-1717
Tags: government, health care, hospitals, medical tourism
Guanacaste, Health and Medical Care | Erin Van Rheenen | 
December 11, 2009 3:41 pm
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By Kathy, December 17, 2009 @ 5:01 pm
Glad to hear the doctor there had success. Probably worth the price — not always the case in the US.
By Marty, February 17, 2010 @ 9:46 pm
Thanks for your recommendation. I am staying at Reserva Conchal and on Monday evening I got a fish bone stuck in my throat (at Angelina’s Restaurant in Playa Flamingo). The Emergency Medical Services “clinic” in Huacas sent me to Liberia today to see Dr. Granera. He examined me in his clinic office (at the location you describe), but had to take me to his hospital office where he had the equipment needed to dislodge and remove the fish bone. He spent at least 90 minutes with us. I paid the 30,000 colones fee and expected to pay lots more at the hospital. But, no. Dr. Granera said the 30,000 covered everything. I believe the attention and services I received today would have cost over $1,500 in US. By the way, Liberia has a 120 bed hospital that is very clean and well-staffed, with modern equipment.
Beware the whole cooked unboned fish. Mine was the red snapper. Dr. told me he gets at least one fish bone in throat case every week.
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