Hospital La Católica

Hospital La Católica is one of Costa Rica's premier private hospitals, founded in 1963 in the Guadalupe district of San José and operated by the Catholic Church under a non-profit mission. It is consistently ranked among the top private medical facilities in Central America and serves a sizeable international patient population, drawn largely by the country's growing medical tourism sector and its competitive pricing relative to North American healthcare markets. The hospital operates across a broad range of clinical disciplines, with particular strengths in cardiology, oncology, orthopedics, neurology, and gynecology. An International Patient Services department assists overseas visitors with appointment scheduling, physician coordination, medical record translation, and insurance pre-authorisation. The facility holds ISO 9001 quality management certification and is accredited by the Costa Rican government's health ministry (CCSS oversight does not apply to private facilities, but the hospital is licensed under MINSA). Costs for common procedures typically run 40–60 percent below equivalent US pricing, making it attractive to patients from the United States, Canada, and Europe seeking elective surgery or specialist consultations. Telemedicine services are available for pre-arrival consultations and post-procedure follow-up. The hospital campus includes a dedicated oncology centre, a cardiac catheterisation laboratory, advanced imaging facilities including MRI and PET-CT, and a 24-hour emergency department.