Bottom line up front: Every country in this region has a national accreditation or licensing body operating alongside, not instead of, JCI — understanding both layers gives you a fuller verification picture.
| Country | National regulatory/accreditation body | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Colombia | Habilitación (mandatory) + Acreditación (voluntary, ICONTEC-based) | Facility licensing and voluntary quality certification |
| Mexico | COFEPRIS | Medical device, pharmaceutical, and facility regulation |
| Brazil | ANVISA | Health surveillance, medical device, and facility regulation |
| Costa Rica | Ministerio de Salud licensing | Facility operating licenses |
Why national accreditation matters alongside JCI
JCI accreditation is voluntary and facility-specific — many legitimate, safe facilities operate without pursuing it, relying instead on robust national licensing. National accreditation isn't a lesser standard; it's a different, often mandatory, baseline that JCI builds on top of where a facility chooses to pursue it.
How to use both layers in verification
Check JCI status first if the facility claims it, then confirm the facility also meets the country's national licensing requirement — the two aren't redundant, they're complementary layers. See colombiamedical.co for Colombia-specific accreditation verification steps.
The Takeaway
A facility without JCI accreditation isn't automatically suspect — verify its national licensing status specifically before drawing that conclusion.