Cuba's healthcare system stumbles as fuel cuts and shortages take hold
An elderly woman living in the Habana Centro neighbourhood of the Cuban capital has had a bad fall. Her neighbours on the quiet residential street think she may have broken her hip, and they climb up and down the narrow stairs to her apartment to see what she needs. As the neighbours wait on the pavement for the woman's family to arrive, a grim debate about what to do next takes place. One person…
An elderly woman in Havana faced challenges accessing healthcare due to shortages and poor conditions in the medical system. The US fuel embargo and blackouts resulted in hospitals running out of supplies and staffed with overworked, underpaid professionals. Cuban physicians, despite being well-trained, operate under restrictions since the 1960s, leading to the development of a successful biopharmaceutical industry.
With limited options, some Cubans like Raul must rely on family abroad and charitable organizations for medicine. The UN reports that essential medicines are available at only 30% of normal levels, with most pharmacies having empty shelves. Doctors and medical professionals leave the country due to low pay and poor working conditions.
The US blames the communist regime in Cuba for the crisis, while those in Cuba point to US pressure as the primary cause.
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