<?xml version="1.0" encoding="ISO-8859-1"?><article xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance">
<front>
<journal-meta>
<journal-id>1659-0201</journal-id>
<journal-title><![CDATA[Población y Salud en Mesoamérica]]></journal-title>
<abbrev-journal-title><![CDATA[PSM]]></abbrev-journal-title>
<issn>1659-0201</issn>
<publisher>
<publisher-name><![CDATA[Universidad de Costa Rica. Centro Centroamericano de Población]]></publisher-name>
</publisher>
</journal-meta>
<article-meta>
<article-id>S1659-02012022000100025</article-id>
<article-id pub-id-type="doi">10.15517/psm.v0i19.46535</article-id>
<title-group>
<article-title xml:lang="en"><![CDATA[(Ine)quality in Healthcare: a perspective from the accreditation of clinical laboratories in Costa Rica]]></article-title>
<article-title xml:lang="es"><![CDATA[(Ine)quidades en la calidad de la atención sanitaria: perspectiva de la acreditación de laboratorios clínicos en Costa Rica]]></article-title>
</title-group>
<contrib-group>
<contrib contrib-type="author">
<name>
<surname><![CDATA[Quesada-Yamasaki]]></surname>
<given-names><![CDATA[Daniel]]></given-names>
</name>
<xref ref-type="aff" rid="Aff"/>
</contrib>
<contrib contrib-type="author">
<name>
<surname><![CDATA[Zeledón-Mayorga]]></surname>
<given-names><![CDATA[Raúl]]></given-names>
</name>
<xref ref-type="aff" rid="Aff"/>
</contrib>
</contrib-group>
<aff id="Af1">
<institution><![CDATA[,Healthcare Practice Area  ]]></institution>
<addr-line><![CDATA[ ]]></addr-line>
<country>Costa Rica</country>
</aff>
<aff id="Af2">
<institution><![CDATA[,Caja Costarricense de Seguro Social  ]]></institution>
<addr-line><![CDATA[ ]]></addr-line>
<country>Costa Rica</country>
</aff>
<pub-date pub-type="pub">
<day>00</day>
<month>06</month>
<year>2022</year>
</pub-date>
<pub-date pub-type="epub">
<day>00</day>
<month>06</month>
<year>2022</year>
</pub-date>
<volume>19</volume>
<numero>2</numero>
<fpage>25</fpage>
<lpage>42</lpage>
<copyright-statement/>
<copyright-year/>
<self-uri xlink:href="http://www.scielo.sa.cr/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&amp;pid=S1659-02012022000100025&amp;lng=en&amp;nrm=iso"></self-uri><self-uri xlink:href="http://www.scielo.sa.cr/scielo.php?script=sci_abstract&amp;pid=S1659-02012022000100025&amp;lng=en&amp;nrm=iso"></self-uri><self-uri xlink:href="http://www.scielo.sa.cr/scielo.php?script=sci_pdf&amp;pid=S1659-02012022000100025&amp;lng=en&amp;nrm=iso"></self-uri><abstract abstract-type="short" xml:lang="en"><p><![CDATA[Abstract Introduction: Given the relevance of quality-assured laboratory services for health system strengthening and improvement, this study had the objective of exploring the distribution of ISO 15189-accredited and non-accredited laboratories in Costa Rica, in order to identify possible gaps in the fulfillment of its commitment to provide quality healthcare for all.Methods: Our research was conducted with a descriptive scope and following a quantitative approach. Costa Ricas Accreditation Body and College of Microbiologists databases were searched to collect data regarding clinical laboratory registration and ISO 15189 accreditation status. Laboratory availability indicators by geographical division were computed with this data.Results: Out of 480 clinical laboratories allowed to operate in Costa Rica as of January 2021, only 5 (about 1%) have been accredited in compliance with ISO 15189, all of which are private and located in the province of San José. Also, laboratory density (in terms of facilities per 100 km2 and per 100 000 population) is heterogeneous among provinces. Clinical laboratory services are more easily available in central provinces of the country (e.g. San José and Heredia), where ratios for laboratory density are higher. On the contrary, coastal provinces such as Limón and Puntarenas exhibit low laboratory density ratios, reflecting geographical disparities in access to healthcare.Conclusions: Geographic disparities in the access to clinical laboratory services were observed. This should raise awareness among public health authorities and private healthcare providers regarding the countrys progress in attaining its quality healthcare for all commitment.]]></p></abstract>
<abstract abstract-type="short" xml:lang="es"><p><![CDATA[Resumen Introducción: Dada la relevancia de asegurar la calidad en los servicios de laboratorio para el fortalecimiento de los sistemas de salud, este estudio tuvo como objetivo explorar la distribución de laboratorios acreditados con ISO 15189 en Costa Rica, buscando identificar posibles brechas en el cumplimiento del compromiso país de brindar atención sanitaria de calidad para todos. Metodología: Se realizó una investigación con alcance descriptivo, siguiendo un enfoque cuantitativo. Se exploraron las bases de datos del Ente Costarricense de Acreditación y del Colegio de Microbiólogos de Costa Rica para recopilar datos sobre el registro y estado de acreditación de laboratorios clínicos. Con estos datos, se calcularon indicadores de densidad de laboratorios por división geográfica. Resultados: De los 480 laboratorios clínicos autorizados para operar en Costa Rica a enero 2021, solo 5 (aproximadamente un 1%) están acreditados por ISO 15189; todos ellos son privados y se ubican en la provincia de San José. Además, hay heterogeneidad entre provincias en cuanto a la densidad de laboratorios (establecimientos por 100 km2 y por 100 000 habitantes). Los servicios de laboratorio clínico están más fácilmente disponibles en provincias "centrales" del país (como San José y Heredia). Por el contrario, provincias costeras como Limón y Puntarenas exhiben bajas densidades de laboratorios, lo que refleja desigualdades en el acceso a la atención en salud. Conclusiones: Se observaron disparidades geográficas en el acceso a los servicios de laboratorio clínico. Esto debería crear conciencia entre los proveedores de salud públicos y privados sobre el progreso del país en el cumplimiento de su compromiso de "atención sanitaria de calidad para todos".]]></p></abstract>
<kwd-group>
<kwd lng="en"><![CDATA[Accreditation]]></kwd>
<kwd lng="en"><![CDATA[Clinical Laboratory Services]]></kwd>
<kwd lng="en"><![CDATA[Quality of Healthcare]]></kwd>
<kwd lng="en"><![CDATA[Costa Rica]]></kwd>
<kwd lng="es"><![CDATA[Acreditación]]></kwd>
<kwd lng="es"><![CDATA[Servicios de Laboratorio Clínico]]></kwd>
<kwd lng="es"><![CDATA[Calidad de la Atención en Salud]]></kwd>
<kwd lng="es"><![CDATA[Costa Rica]]></kwd>
</kwd-group>
</article-meta>
</front><back>
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