Costa Rica | Physicians (per 1,000 people)
Physicians include generalist and specialist medical practitioners. Development relevance: The WHO estimates that at least 2.5 medical staff (physicians, nurses and midwives) per 1,000 people are needed to provide adequate coverage with primary care interventions (WHO, World Health Report 2006). Limitations and exceptions: The WHO compiles data from household and labor force surveys, censuses, and administrative records. Data comparability is limited by differences in definitions and training of medical personnel varies. In addition, human resources tend to be concentrated in urban areas, so that average densities do not provide a full picture of health personnel available to the entire population. Statistical concept and methodology: Health systems - the combined arrangements of institutions and actions whose primary purpose is to promote, restore, or maintain health (World Health Organization, World Health Report 2000) - are increasingly being recognized as key to combating disease and improving the health status of populations. The World Bank's Healthy Development: Strategy for Health, Nutrition, and Population Results emphasizes the need to strengthen health systems, which are weak in many countries, in order to increase the effectiveness of programs aimed at reducing specific diseases and further reduce morbidity and mortality. To evaluate health systems, the World Health Organization (WHO) has recommended that key components - such as financing, service delivery, workforce, governance, and information - be monitored using several key indicators. The data are a subset of the key indicators. Monitoring health systems allows the effectiveness, efficiency, and equity of different health system models to be compared. Health system data also help identify weaknesses and strengths and areas that need investment, such as additional health facilities, better health information systems, or better trained human resources. Data on health worker (physicians, nurses and midwives, and community health workers) density show the availability of medical personnel.
Publisher
The World Bank
Origin
Republic of Costa Rica
Records
63
Source
Costa Rica | Physicians (per 1,000 people)
1960 0.391
1961
1962
1963
1964
1965 0.517
1966
1967
1968
1969
1970 0.614
1971
1972
1973
1974
1975
1976
1977
1978
1979 0.679
1980
1981
1982
1983
1984 0.99
1985
1986
1987 0.968
1988 0.881
1989
1990 1.26
1991
1992
1993 0.883
1994 0.845
1995 0.854
1996 0.864
1997 0.872
1998 0.901
1999 1.719
2000 1.308
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006 2.026
2007 2.074
2008 2.139
2009 2.197
2010 2.283
2011 2.348
2012 2.433
2013 2.516
2014 2.617
2015 2.705
2016 2.881
2017 2.999
2018 2.87
2019 3.208
2020 2.718
2021 2.77
2022
Costa Rica | Physicians (per 1,000 people)
Physicians include generalist and specialist medical practitioners. Development relevance: The WHO estimates that at least 2.5 medical staff (physicians, nurses and midwives) per 1,000 people are needed to provide adequate coverage with primary care interventions (WHO, World Health Report 2006). Limitations and exceptions: The WHO compiles data from household and labor force surveys, censuses, and administrative records. Data comparability is limited by differences in definitions and training of medical personnel varies. In addition, human resources tend to be concentrated in urban areas, so that average densities do not provide a full picture of health personnel available to the entire population. Statistical concept and methodology: Health systems - the combined arrangements of institutions and actions whose primary purpose is to promote, restore, or maintain health (World Health Organization, World Health Report 2000) - are increasingly being recognized as key to combating disease and improving the health status of populations. The World Bank's Healthy Development: Strategy for Health, Nutrition, and Population Results emphasizes the need to strengthen health systems, which are weak in many countries, in order to increase the effectiveness of programs aimed at reducing specific diseases and further reduce morbidity and mortality. To evaluate health systems, the World Health Organization (WHO) has recommended that key components - such as financing, service delivery, workforce, governance, and information - be monitored using several key indicators. The data are a subset of the key indicators. Monitoring health systems allows the effectiveness, efficiency, and equity of different health system models to be compared. Health system data also help identify weaknesses and strengths and areas that need investment, such as additional health facilities, better health information systems, or better trained human resources. Data on health worker (physicians, nurses and midwives, and community health workers) density show the availability of medical personnel.
Publisher
The World Bank
Origin
Republic of Costa Rica
Records
63
Source