| Pharmacies are numerous in Costa Rica and they stock most
standard medicines available in Europe, Canada and the United
States. In general, the cost of most medicines is lower than
in the U.S. However, it pays to shop around. There has been
a continuous price war going on among most of the pharmacy
chains. So, good bargains may be found.
Most drugs requiring a prescription in North America are
freely available over the counter in any Costa Rican farmacia.
Exceptions are strong pain relievers and narcotics that require
a special prescription. In Costa Rica, pharmacists are permitted
to prescribe medicines as well as administer on-the-spot injections.
They are also available to answer your questions and give
free medical advice about less complex conditions. In general,
Costa Rican pharmacists usually will give you the correct
advice and appropriate medication. This can save you a trip
to the doctor's office.
Foreigners who can't find their specific medication will
have no problem. Pharmacists have a thick medical guide listing
most medicines in the world and their generic equivalents.
Some caution should be taken when figuring out the specific
dose. I have a friend form Fort Lauderdale, Florida, who mistakenly
purchased blood pressure medicine that was twice as strong
as what he needed. He ended up feeling very ill and had to
be taken to a local hospital. The problem was quickly resolved
when the doctor realized the dosage was incorrect.
Some pharmacies open 24-hours a day are in downtown San José
at Clínica Bíblica, 223-6422; at the Clínica
Católica, 225-9095; and the Farmacia del Este in San
Pedro (253-5121).
The Farmacia Alvarez (237-5425 , E-mail: farmacia@rxcr.com
or see http://www.farmacia-alvarez.com) in downtown Heredia
offers some of the best prices in Costa Rica. In some cases
you can save up to 80 percent of what you would pay in the
United States. They also have bilingual employees to help
you.
The main branch of the Fischel pharmacy (223-0909), across
from the main post office in San José, has a doctor
on duty to give medical advice. Fischel will deliver medicine
and prescriptions in most areas. Many of their employees speak
English. They also have smaller pharmacies in other locations
around San José and in Heredia, Alajuela, Cartago and
Puntarenas.
Pharmacy
For home delivery call them toll-free at 800 Fischel (800-347-2435).
Recently, Fischel opened the country's first online pharmacy.
They offer the sale of prescriptions and over-the-counter
products. In addition, their staff of pharmacists and doctors
will answer your questions. Their site also provides general
information on topics such as proper use and storage of medicines.
You may view their site at http://www.fishel.co.cr. Fishhel
doesn't give very good discounts. You can find the price of
most medicines by accessing their site at:
http://www.fischel. co.cr/Default.asp?Usu=Anonimo.
Farmacia Sucre and Farmacia Catedral are other large pharmacy
chains in the Central Valley.
The newest concept in pharmacies is Farmacia Rx Express 800MEDICINA
(800-633-4246). They offer 24-hour home delivery seven days
a week and don't close for holidays. They have 14 locations
and plan to open more. Contact them to find out about their
discount programs.
Dental Care
Many tourists come to Costa Rica to have their cosmetic dental
work done inexpensively. The quality of dental work in Costa
Rica is equal to that found in Europe, Canada or the United
States. On the average, dental work costs about 25 to 30 percent
less than in the United States. Most dentists charge about
$35 for an initial exam. The approximate costs of the most
common cosmetic procedures are: wisdom tooth surgery $175,
single root canal $150, new crown $250, implants $750, fillings
about $30 per tooth, and regular tooth extraction $40. If
you have children, orthodontics are very affordable. Check
prices with the dentist of your choice, since rates vary.
Costa Rican dentists offer the following services: implants,
gum treatment, root canals, whitening, oral surgery, crowns,
bridges and nitrous oxide sedation.
Orthodontics for children and adults are available and affordable
in Costa Rica. Our son has braces. The total cost for a two-year
treatment is about $1,500 which can be paid in monthly installments
of $45.
One word of caution for foreigners, some Costa Rican dentists
advertise in English-language publications and cater almost
exclusively to foreigners. Patients will sometimes pay more
for the dental services these doctors provide. It's a good
idea to shop around and ask for recommendations. The Costa
Rican Surgeons and Dentists Association (Tel/Fax: 256-3100,
E-mail: dentista@racsa.co.cr, http://www. colegiodentists.co.cr)
will give you a list of dentists practicing in Costa Rica.
Check with other residents for recommendations. Above all,
be sure to find out if the dentist you are considering is
practicing legally.
You may now combine a dental vacation with one of Christopher
Howard's Relocation/Retirement Tours. Please see http:// www.travel.
costaricabooks.com for all details or call toll-free 800-365-2342.
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