Cuban Health Care: Utopian Dreams, Fragile FutureThe Cuban health care system has been the focus of much international attention and debate while revealing jarring contrasts. Long publicized as the Cuban Revolution’s greatest accomplishment, it is also a system covered by such a thick wall of political ideology that critical analysis is difficult. Its medical missions in Haiti and other developing countries have generated good will toward the Castro government, even as humanitarian groups in North America and Europe organize shipments of medicines and medical equipment to Cuban clinics and hospitals plagued by shortages of the most basic supplies. No country’s health care system functions independently of its economy, and over the years, Cuba’s medical services and public health indicators have improved at some intervals and declined at others. Cuban authorities have been closing medical facilities and making other cutbacks in the health budget, amid reported outbreaks of cholera and dengue fever in several parts of the country. The Cuban health care system is facing more upheaval as the country begins to look ahead to a post-Castro Cuba and the changes this could entail. |
Contents
| 1 | |
Medical Histories | 11 |
Infrastructure and Shortages | 25 |
Women and Children | 39 |
Aging and Youth A Cuban Dilemma | 59 |
Cuban Medical Training | 69 |
Research and Pharmaceuticals Necessity is the Mother of Invention | 83 |
Medical Diplomacy Medical Services | 105 |
Facing the Future | 119 |
Cuban Doctors Open Letter to Raul Castro Which Began Circulating in September 2012 | 127 |
A Cuban Medical Timeline | 133 |
| 135 | |
| 137 | |
About the Authors | 141 |
Other editions - View all
Cuban Health Care: Utopian Dreams, Fragile Future Mary Helen Spooner,Steven Ullman No preview available - 2014 |
Common terms and phrases
abortion According American Health Organization areas biotechnology birth Brazil cancer Cano and Volpato Castro government Center CIGB clinical country’s Cuba Cuba’s Cuban authorities Cuban doctors Cuban government Cuban health Cuban medical schools Cuban officials Cuban physicians dengue fever disease drug Education in Cuba elderly exports facilities family doctor Fidel Castro Gonzalez government’s graduates Granma Haiti health care system health professionals health system herbal medicine Hilda Molina HIV/AIDS hospital Ibid infection Journal maternity homes medi medical services MEDICC Review ment MINSAP National nurses nutritional op.cit outbreak Pan American Health Pastors for Peace patients percent pharmaceutical pharmacy plants political polyclinic population pregnant women public health reported Revista Cubana Revolution Salud sector sexual shortages social surgery tion told tourist traditional medicine treat treatment United University of Havana vaccine Venezuela Villa Clara province Wikileaks