Cuba’s Health Politics: At Home and Abroad - must read

http://www.coha.org/cuba%E2%80%99s-health-politics-at-home-and-abroad/
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Over the past fifty years Cuba has constructed a health care system lauded by international experts and the envy of and model for developing countries – and, in certain instances, developed countries as well. Despite considerable economic hardships, Cuba provides free universal coverage for its own population, and has achieved country health indices comparable to developed countries, but at a dramatically lower cost. In addition, Cuba is a global leader in providing medical aid and education to other countries through its ‘medical diplomacy’ program of South-South collaboration. From its initial days soon after coming to power, to the immediate medical aid it extended to Haiti after the January 12 earthquake struck Port-au-Prince with devastating results, Cuba’s revolutionary government evinced a strong ideological commitment to help other nations in an effort to repay a debt for the external support it received during the revolution. As a result, the provision of medical aid – the basis for the island highly successful medical diplomacy – to other developing countries has been a key element of Cuba’s international relations ever since the revolution.

This paper charts a brief history of the evolution of Cuba’s health system through five decades of health sector reform, the ideology underpinning it, the development and practice of medical diplomacy, the costs and benefits of improving relations with other countries through the provision of both medical assistance and medical education; and the inherent strengths and limitations of the Cuban public health system. Without ignoring some of the shortfalls of that system, this paper draws lessons that other countries could learn from the Cuban model, and suggests adapting specific policies and programs that are feasible for countries with very different political and economic systems.

Our friend ended up in a hospital while we were visiting Cuba. He was dehydrated but they wouldn't let him drink the tap water in the hospital. We had to drive to a store to buy him bottled water. And they don't serve food to the patients. Their familys have to bring food in with them.

As an American living and teaching in Venezuela, I've used our local "Mission Al Dentro" health clinic on several occasions and have been delighted with quick, friendly service I've received from both the Cuban and Venezuelan doctors who work there. No appointments are needed, and my average wait time for service was 15 minutes.

What a relief it has been to be able to get medical care when I needed it, not merely when I could afford it. There are no co-pays here, indeed no charges at all for laboratory, x-rays and all the other procedures which are so expensive in the U.S., even for those with insurance.

It is simply appalling that so many millions of Americans don't have access to health care because private insurers are actively obstructing the most economical and efficient way to provide it: Medicare for all.

The only period when they left was when Seaga expelled the Cuban ambassador and assumed that the doctors would stay. They all left and returned in 1989.