Healthcare in Cuba

"Operation Milagro" redirects here. For the Cuban government medical humanitarian program, see Operación Milagro. For maritime conservation NGO project, see Operation Milagro (Sea Shepherd).

The Cuban government operates a national health system and assumes fiscal and administrative responsibility for the health care of all its citizens.[1] All healthcare in Cuba is free to Cuban residents,[2] although challenges include low salaries for doctors, poor facilities, poor provision of equipment, and the frequent absence of essential drugs.[3][4] There are no private hospitals or clinics as all health services are government-run. The current public health minister of Cuba is José Angel Portal Miranda.[5]

Like the rest of the Cuban economy, Cuban medical care suffered following the end of Soviet subsidies in 1991. The United States embargo against Cuba also has an effect.[6]

The Cuban healthcare system has emphasized the export of health professionals through international missions, aiding global health efforts. However, while these missions generate significant revenue and serve as a tool for political influence, domestically, Cuba faces challenges including medication shortages and disparities between medical services for locals and foreigners.[7] Despite the income from these missions, only a small fraction of the national budget has been allocated to public health, underscoring contrasting priorities within the nation's healthcare strategy.[7]

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference Harvard was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ "Why an American went to Cuba for cancer care". BBC News. 19 April 2017. Retrieved 27 January 2023.
  3. ^ Editorial (16 May 2015). "Be more libre". economist.com. Retrieved 20 May 2015.
  4. ^ The Committee Office, House of Commons (28 March 2001). "Cuban Health Care Systems and its implications for the NHS Plan". Select Committee on Health. Archived from the original on 21 August 2013. Retrieved 19 July 2013.
  5. ^ "Health authorities of the Americas discuss their response to the COVID-19 pandemic at the 75th World Health Assembly - PAHO/WHO | Pan American Health Organization". www.paho.org. 24 May 2022. Retrieved 2022-10-05.
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference US embargo was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference :4 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).