The Associated Press and various agencies published an
article a week or so ago about some apparent changes in the free health care in
Cuba.
Although it’s “free”, we have talked to a number of people
who say that they have to bribe specialists to treat serious matters, that
there are no clean, new instruments, bed coverings, etc., and that free isn’t
necessarily good. The writer of the article says, “Scarcities now are common
and sanitary conditions fall short of the ideal in decaying facilities where
paint peels from the walls. Patients often bring their own bed sheets, electric
fans, food and water for hospital stays.”
For years, Cuba has allowed its doctors to leave the country
for Venezuela and other countries.
According to the article, “Cuba’s system of free medical
care, long considered a birthright by its citizens and trumpeted as one of the
communist government’s great successes, is not immune to cutbacks under Raul
Castro’s drive for efficiency.”
Cuba’s financial crisis has resulted in a number of changes.
One might think the changes are a positive move away from communism, but that
doesn’t seem to be the intention.
The firing of numerous workers and expecting them to become
entrepreneurs, the improvement of service at restaurants (to improve the
attitude of tourists), and other moves all seem to be efforts to reduce the
outflow. The Cuban government has
to be worried about the future of Venezuelan support.
The writer of the article said, “The health sector has
already endured millions of dollars in budget cuts and tens of thousands of
layoffs…” “… the newspaper voice
of the Communist Party, Granma, published daily details for two weeks on how
much the government spends on everything from anesthetics and acupuncture to
orthodontics and organ transplants.”
The government seems to want to “discourage frivolous use of
medical services….”
The writer says that the propaganda currently being
disseminated about how much health care costs is a precursor to some serious
limitations on health care for Cubans.
I ran a google search using the words "Cuban Hospital", and was shocked by what I saw.
This is what you will see: And clicking on the pictures provides much more information.
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