Costa Rica sets maximum prices for 517 medicines

The Costa Rican Ministry of Economy, Industry and Commerce (MEIC) has established maximum consumer prices for 517 pharmaceutical products. This temporary intervention, formalized through Executive Decree No. 45934-MEIC, aims to correct market price distortions and reduce the financial burden on consumers.

The regulation covers 68 active ingredients or combinations, organized into 142 pharmaceutical groupings. While this encompasses 356 specific medications based on presentation and concentration, the total reaches 517 products when accounting for various commercial brands. For products currently priced above the new limits, an average price reduction of approximately 30% is estimated.

The measure is scheduled to take effect on December 23, 2026, and will remain in place for up to six months. During this period, authorities will monitor market behavior, supply conditions, and price adjustments. The selection of regulated products was based on criteria including therapeutic relevance, private expenditure representativeness, epidemiological profiles, and market competition conditions.