Couples who are lined up to receive in vitro fertilization treatments are unhappy about delays in provision of the service by Costa Rica’s public health system.

They have requested a meeting with Executive President of the Costa Rican Social Security Agency (CCSS) Fernando Llorca to express their concerns over the delays, given that the country has a commitment under international human rights law to provide the reproductive treatment.

“This is an international commitment that is being ignored by the Caja (CCSS), who has acted very slowly,” said Hubert May, a lawyer representing the couples.

 

The country signed an agreement with the Inter-American Court of Human Rights (IACHR) in order to avoid a second international court case in which the country agreed to provide the reproductive service to women in Costa Rica through the public health system.

The final date by which provision of the service needed to be offered was September 11, 2017. The National Women’s Hospital announced last September they would offer the treatments after their staff was trained on the procedure.

The couples hope to find out from Llorca himself what options are open to them in order to receive the in vitro fertilization treatment they require to try to conceive a child.