The 1973 General Health Act gave all residents the right to health care according to
existing rules and regulations, and pregnant women, minors and disabled children, the
right to the specific care they need. During those years, the CCSS developed into the
single most important financer and provider of public health care in the country, whilst
private providers continued operating in a parallel market segment. In addition, a ‘mixed’
market segment has developed over time consisting in a variety of instruments for publicprivate
cooperation, as is discussed below. Medical doctors in Costa Rica generally work
without exclusive dedication and are allowed to work in each of the health care market
segments at the same time.