Knowledge of the doctor about the free trade agreement in the Costa Rican health sector

Abstract

Justification: Health is a human right by itself and it is related to the countries economic growth. One problem put forward by CAFTA has to do with its effects on the health services. The present study was undertaken to determine the knowledge of medical doctors regarding the possible effects of CAFTA on the health system and its repercussions on availability of generic medicines and the access to health services.

Methodology: A survey was made to 60 medical doctors working at 3 national hospitals of the Costa Rica social security system, between April and May 2006.

Result: From the 60 medical doctors, 37% were women and 63% were men. Eighty three per cent mentioned to know about CAFTA, 75 % via the mass media and 53% had been informed about its contents of intellectual property. The most frequently effects on health mentioned were: access to generic medicines (60%), accessibility of health services (50%) and job opportunities (40%), while only 15% did not recognize any effect.

Asociación Latinoamericana de

Infectología Pediátrica

Asociación Costarricense de Pediatría

Asociación Costarricense de Infectología

Actividad

XII Congreso Latinoamericano de Infectología Pediátrica,

XV Congreso Nacional de Pediatría,

VII Congreso Nacional de Infectología,

9 al 11 de mayo de 2007. Créditos de emc: 15

Precongreso 8 de mayo de 2007. Créditos de emc: 5

Informes de la actividad

283-9712/ 283-4345/ 234-6070

Conclusions: Physicians as professionals, as workers of the security system and as consumers must know the contents of CAFTA, particularly those that can affect their performance at work. This study demonstrates that many medical doctors who were interviewed do not have an adequate knowledge about CAFTA, its implications and effects on Costa Rican health services.