The Costa Rican Social Security Agency (CCSS, its initials in Spanish) will offer hormonal and psychological treatment to transsexual individuals, in order to avoid both physical and emotional complications; reported the agency yesterday, Monday, June 19.

Last week, the CCSS board of directors approved an agreement instructing the medical management to establish an interdisciplinary health professional committee charged with developing a therapeutic care protocol for the transgender population. The protocol is expected to be ready in three months.

The institution said they wish to implement a comprehensive care approach that takes into account the physical and emotional needs of transgendered individuals. Once the protocol is developed, health care practitioners will be trained to provide high quality services to this population.

Jose Luis Loría Chaves, director of the CCSS board, said all individuals who are properly insured in any of the modalities offered by the CCSS can access the treatment, and estimated about 100 people could be expected to take advantage of the new services.

The director explained that transsexual people often suffer discrimination, aggression, harrassment and hostilities that prevent them from getting an education or job, and they often experience social rejection which may lead them to higher rates of drug use or self-destructive behaviors.

Loría was clear that one of the values ​​of the CCSS is to make health services universally available to the different groups that make up Costa Rican society.