The Instituto sobre Alcoholismo y Farmacodependencia (IAFA) announced on April 14 that it is making steady progress in implementing the Expediente Digital Único en Salud (EDUS), a unified digital health record system from the Caja Costarricense del Seguro Social, across its Centros de Atención Integral en Drogas (CAID) nationwide. The goal is to achieve full coverage before June 2026.
Currently, the EDUS system operates in 12 IAFA centers and benefits approximately 19,150 users. The integration of this digital platform allows healthcare professionals to access unified clinical histories, which aims to improve quality of care, patient safety, and efficiency in treating substance use disorders. It also helps coordinate with other health services for continuous and comprehensive care.
For users, the new system means faster and more organized service, greater security for their information, better follow-up on treatments, fewer travel requirements, easier appointment management, and simpler access to clinical information.
“With this system, users will have a single digital file that integrates consultations, exams and treatments, allowing for more timely, agile and coordinated care,” said Vice President of the Republic and Minister of Health Mary Munive Angermüller.
On Monday, EDUS was launched at centers in Alajuela and Heredia. The rollout schedule continues with Liberia on April 27; Pérez Zeledón on May 11; Guápiles on May 25; concluding with Cristo Rey on June 8 when national implementation will be complete.
“We are making a qualitative leap in how we serve people. EDUS allows us to have timely information, improve continuity of care and facilitate access to services,” said IAFA Director General Delma Vaglio.
With this initiative moving forward as planned by IAFA leadership alongside government officials such as Munive Angermüller and Vaglio—who both emphasized improved efficiency—the organization signals ongoing commitment toward modernizing health services through integrated systems.