Homeopathy in Costa Rica
A layman introduced homeopathy in 1889. There is a mention of a strong lay society in 1931. Homeopathy received official sanction in 1929, and further official recognition in 1987.
It was in Costa Rica that Dr. Marcos Jiminez created a bilingual Spanish-English Card Repertory in 1925. Although it is legal only for MDs to practice, there are about 200 MDs and about 2,000 non-medical practitioners. "The Republican law forbids it, but everything when forbidden is practiced more." In July 1998 the congress turned down a bill to recognize non-medical practitioners.
There are several homeopathic schools that teach both MDs and non-MDs. About 51% of the Costa Rican people use homeopathy as their first medicine.