Country · Latin America
Pharmaceutical exports to Costa Rica, ready for Ministry of Health registration
Progene Pharma supplies Costa Rican importers, distributors, hospital suppliers and tender suppliers with generic medicines we manufacture in a WHO-GMP certified facility. We prepare the dossier, the COPP and the GMP evidence the Ministry of Health asks for, pack in Spanish, and ship to Puerto Limón and Caldera.
- Regulator
- Ministry of Health
- Labels
- Spanish
- Stability
- Climate zone set by the authority
- Main ports
- Puerto Limón, Caldera
The Costa Rican medicines market in brief
Costa Rica is a small, stable market with high health indicators and universal public coverage. It imports a large share of its medicines, and its public and private systems both buy generics.
Chronic care medicines for diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease sell in large volumes, alongside antibiotics, pain medicines, gastric products and supplements. The social security fund, CCSS, buys most of the medicines used in public hospitals through national tenders, while pharmacy chains, private hospitals and distributors buy alongside it.
The Ministry of Health registers medicines and requires evidence of GMP compliance. Registered products can be supplied across the country through importers in San José.
Medicines we supply to Costa Rica
These are the medicines Costa Rican distributors ask us for most. We make any human formulation to your specification, under your brand. See all human formulations
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Generic medicines for pharmacies
Analgesics, antihistamines, gastric medicines and everyday prescription generics in the strengths and packs pharmacies sell.
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Antibiotics and infections
Amoxicillin, amoxicillin and clavulanic acid, azithromycin, ciprofloxacin, cefixime and ceftriaxone injection, for clinics and hospitals.
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Pain and fever
Paracetamol, ibuprofen and diclofenac in tablets, suspensions and injections.
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Diabetes and heart care
Metformin, glimepiride, amlodipine, losartan and atorvastatin, as long-term conditions become a larger share of prescriptions in San José, Alajuela and Cartago.
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Stomach and allergy
Omeprazole, pantoprazole, cetirizine, montelukast and cough syrups, for everyday pharmacy sale.
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Hospital and tender supplies
IV fluids, injectable antibiotics, anaesthetics and analgesics in hospital packs for tenders.
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Vitamins and supplements
Multivitamins, vitamin D3, omega-3, probiotics and protein products for pharmacies, health stores and online sellers.
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Herbal and personal care
Herbal products, creams, washes, shampoos and soaps under your brand, with the ingredient lists your authority requires.
MoH registration, step by step
A medicine cannot be imported or sold in Costa Rica until Ministry of Health has granted a sanitary registration. This is the usual route for a finished pharmaceutical product made abroad.
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01
A local company applies
The registration is held by a company established in Costa Rica that holds the right licences, usually the importer or distributor, acting for the manufacturer. It applies to MoH.
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02
The manufacturer authorises it
The manufacturer gives the applicant a letter of authorisation that names the product and the company, which we provide.
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03
The dossier goes in
The applicant submits the dossier with stability data for the required climate zone, the WHO-format COPP, the GMP certificate and the samples, with documents legalised where required. We prepare the manufacturer's documents.
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04
MoH reviews it
MoH assesses the dossier and may ask questions, which we answer with you. A generic may need bioequivalence data.
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05
GMP evidence and samples
MoH checks that the manufacturing site complies with GMP, from the documents or an inspection, and may test samples.
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06
Registration and renewal
On approval MoH issues a sanitary registration, valid for a fixed period and renewed before it expires. The registration number goes on every pack.
Registration takes from several months to more than a year, and MoH updates its requirements from time to time, so check the current guidelines with MoH or your regulatory agent. Many importers register a few products first and add more as orders grow.
Who does what when you import into Costa Rica
A clear split of the paperwork, so nothing falls between the importer and the manufacturer.
Your company handles
- The MoH application, as the registration holder
- The licences your business needs to import and distribute medicines
- Bioequivalence studies for generics, where MoH asks for them
- The import documents and customs declaration, through your customs agent
- Payment, and clearance at the port
Progene Pharma handles
- The CTD dossier, stability data and samples
- The COPP, the GMP certificate and the letter of authorisation
- A Certificate of Analysis for every batch
- Labels and leaflets with your sanitary registration number
- Invoice, packing list and certificate of origin
- Answers to MoH's questions during review
Made for Costa Rican conditions
Heat, humidity, long journeys and several languages: what a medicine needs to stay good from the port to the patient.
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Labels in Spanish
Cartons and patient leaflets in Spanish, with the generic name, the sanitary registration number, batch number, expiry date and storage conditions MoH requires, and an approved proof before printing.
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Stability for your zone
Stability studies at the climate zone MoH requires, with moisture-resistant blisters or bottles, so the shelf life on the pack is valid.
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Packs for every channel
Pharmacy packs, hospital packs and tender packs in the quantities pharmacies, distributors and public hospitals buy.
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Documents that match the file
The COA, the COPP and the GMP certificate are prepared to match the dossier exactly, because inconsistencies slow review.
Shipping to Costa Rica
Orders leave from Nhava Sheva (JNPT) near Mumbai by sea, or by air when they are urgent, with the documents your clearing agent needs.
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Puerto Limón
The main Atlantic port, with road freight to San José
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Caldera
The Pacific port, closer to San José
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San José
By air to Juan Santamaría International Airport for urgent orders and samples
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Terms and documents
FOB, CFR or CIF, with invoice, packing list, certificate of origin and COA, and the import documents and customs declaration from your side
Where Costa Rican distributors sell
The same registered product moves through several channels, and each needs its own pack.
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Public health supply
The social security fund, CCSS, buys for public hospitals through national tenders and asks for the full document set.
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Pharmacy chains
Pharmacy chains buy in volume and sell branded and own-label generics.
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Private hospitals and clinics
Private hospital groups and clinics buy in hospital packs, often through group contracts.
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Distributors
Distributors in San José supply pharmacies and hospitals across the country.
Questions about supplying Costa Rica
Something else? Email [email protected].
Do you export medicines to Costa Rica?
Yes. Progene Pharma manufactures generic medicines in a WHO-GMP certified facility and supplies them to importers, wholesalers, hospital suppliers and tender suppliers in Costa Rica.
Can you help us register products with MoH?
Yes. Progene Pharma prepares the documents MoH registration needs: a CTD dossier with stability data, the WHO-format COPP, the GMP certificate, the letter of authorisation and samples for testing. Your Costa Rican company submits the application, and we answer MoH's questions with you.
Do I need a local company to register and import?
Yes. MoH grants a sanitary registration to a company established in Costa Rica that holds the right licences, usually the importer or distributor. Check the current requirements with MoH.
How long does MoH registration take?
It varies by product and by how complete the dossier is, from several months to more than a year. A complete dossier with clear stability data and prompt answers to MoH's questions helps. Many importers register a few products first and add more as orders grow.
Which documents does MoH ask for?
The usual set is a CTD dossier, a COPP, a GMP certificate, stability data, a letter of authorisation, product samples and artwork. MoH updates its requirements from time to time, so confirm the current list with MoH or your regulatory agent. We tell you what we can provide with your quotation.
Do generics need bioequivalence studies?
For some generics, yes, depending on the product and the ministry's current requirements. Tell us the product and we will confirm what is needed before you apply.
Can you supply the social security fund, CCSS?
Yes. Progene Pharma supplies tender packs and the product documents public tenders usually ask for. Tell us the tender requirements and we will confirm what we can provide.
Can a Costa Rican distributor supply other Central American countries?
Some do. Each country registers the medicine itself, although Central American countries work towards shared procedures. Tell us the countries you plan to sell in and we will confirm the documents each one needs.
What must the packs carry for Costa Rica?
Spanish text, the MoH sanitary registration number, batch number, manufacture and expiry dates, storage conditions and the other details MoH requires. We prepare the artwork to match your registration and you approve a proof before printing.
Are your medicines suitable for the climate?
Yes. Progene Pharma tests products at the climate zone your authority requires and packs them in moisture-resistant blisters or bottles, so the shelf life stays valid.
Can you supply tenders in Costa Rica?
Yes. Progene Pharma supplies tender packs and the product documents tenders usually ask for, such as the COPP, GMP certificate and COA. Tell us the tender requirements and we will confirm what we can provide.
How are orders shipped to Costa Rica?
Progene Pharma ships by sea from Nhava Sheva (JNPT) near Mumbai to Puerto Limón or Caldera, or by air to San José for urgent orders, on FOB, CFR or CIF terms. We confirm the schedule with your quotation.
What is the minimum order quantity?
It depends on the product, the dosage form and the packaging. We work with large importers and tender suppliers as well as smaller distributors, and confirm the minimum quantity with your quotation.
Related pages
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Send us your product requirements and target country. Our team will reply with a quotation and next steps.
- [email protected]
- Phone
- +91 22 49793146
- +91 90829 70494