In a major boost for public healthcare, the Costa Rican Social Security Fund (CCSS) has officially closed its 2025–2026 admission cycle with a record-breaking 342 resident doctors entering specialist training programs nationwide.

The final group of 130 new residents will begin their duties on August 1, 2026, working across regional hospitals and local health centers. This initiative marks the largest expansion of specialized medical training in the institution’s history.

Key Highlights of the 2025–2026 Cohort

Record Capacity: A total of 342 specialized positions filled—the highest number ever recorded by the CCSS.

Immediate Deployment: 130 medical residents start hands-on clinical training on August 1, 2026.

Dual-Approach Training: Combines university-level academic coursework with supervised direct patient care.

Nationwide Coverage: Residents are assigned to facilities across the country to address regional coverage gaps.

Bridging Care Gaps Across the Country

Organized through the Strategic Development and Information Center on Health and Social Security (Cendeisss), the program equips young physicians to tackle pressing healthcare demands while working directly alongside experienced senior specialists.

According to CCSS Executive President Mónica Taylor Hernández, expanding specialized medical training is a crucial long-term investment:

“The incorporation of these 130 new resident doctors represents excellent news for the institution and for the country. Every professional who begins their specialized training constitutes a strategic investment to strengthen our services and improve our capacity to respond to the needs of the population.”

Dr. Marvin Palma Lostalo, Medical Manager at CCSS, emphasized that this intake is the result of deliberate strategic planning to reduce wait times and ensure specialized

care is accessible outside major urban centers.

Stronger University Partnerships

The institutional growth was made possible by:

1. Expanding Teaching Positions: Opening additional official clinical residencies within the CCSS system.
2. University Collaboration: Coordinating with both domestic and international higher education institutions with active training agreements.
3. Optimizing Clinical Environments: Maximizing the use of regional hospitals and primary health facilities as practical learning centers.

What’s Next?

With the 2025–2026 process officially wrapped up, Cendeisss has already launched preliminary planning for the upcoming 2026–2027 admission cycle, aiming to sustain momentum in filling critical clinical specialties across Costa Rica.

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