March 29, 2024, 01:54:25 AM *
Welcome, Guest. Please login or register.

Login with username, password and session length
News: NEW CHILD BOARD CREATED IN THE POLITICAL SECTION FOR THE 2016 ELECTION
 
   Home   Help Login Register  
Pages: 1   Go Down
  Print  
Author Topic: "The Challenges of Health Care in Cuba"  (Read 1808 times)
0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.
WhiskeyGirl
Monkey All Star Jr.
****
Offline Offline

Posts: 7754



« on: March 25, 2010, 04:29:34 PM »

Quote
Despite its economic struggles, Cuba has made some of the greatest achievements in health care in the world. However, this is much more complicated than first assumed, as an underlying problem is a health care system that also favors the rich, without providing adequate care for Cuba’s poor.

Quote
Quality of Health Care

However, challenges remain. Healthcare may be free and available for all Cuban citizens but medication is not. Pharmacies are often very poorly stocked and rationing of supplies is minimal. 13 There are claims that hospitals are often in poor conditions and doctors have to bring in their own supplies and equipment to allow them to treat their patients. 10 Despite the production of medical supplies and technology, it seems very little of this actually remains in Cuba. Every year Cuba exports huge amounts of medical aid, mostly to other Latin American countries for purely financial returns. 22 For example, Venezuela provides much-needed oil to Cuba and in exchange receives Cuban doctors and medical supplies. 14

Cuba’s dual economy has a lot to do with why such disparity exists. Medication and equipment is there and available but only to pay for in American dollars, of which the poor and middle classes of Cuba are very unlikely to have. 23 The ‘pesos pharmacies’ and local state hospitals are drastically under-stocked and thus access for the poor to needed medication is minimal, despite the service being free.

Quote
The current national health system has 70,594 physicians, 10,554 dentists and 25,022 with degrees in nursing amongst other health sector groups. 17 However, on graduation and completion of their training, students are under legal obligation to initially work for the Cuban government. Thus wherever the government decides they are to be sent- to a local polyclinic or abroad- they have no choice in the matter. 16 As a result many doctors end up defecting, due to the poor pay, conditions, and treatment in the developing countries to which they are sent. As for work in Cuba itself, the conditions (as previously outlined) and pay are often not much better. On average Cuban doctors are paid $15 a month of which is barely enough to support them. 12 This is a poor return for the restricted professional freedom of a Cuban doctor:

“Cuban doctors are not permitted to talk to foreign journalists or diplomats. They must seek permission to travel outside of their assigned municipalities, and doctors who have defected say Cuban and Venezuelan intelligence operatives kept close tabs on their whereabouts.” 24

Quote
Although Cuba has achieved free access to healthcare for 100% of the population, the means by which health professionals have to diagnose and treat the Cuban population is minimal and still not adequate. Despite the well developed infrastructure of the Cuban healthcare system, which does deserve of the accolades given by governments from around the world, it is still far from equitable, not only for the patients, but for the professionals themselves.

more here - http://www.global-politics.co.uk/issue9/hanna/
Logged

All my posts are just my humble opinions.  Please take with a grain of salt.  Smile

It doesn't do any good to hate anyone,
they'll end up in your family anyway...
Edward
Monkey Junky
***
Offline Offline

Posts: 3816



« Reply #1 on: March 25, 2010, 04:38:19 PM »

Cuba's communist modo..
If we can't keep you poor and in good health, then we will keep you poor and in bad health.
 
Logged
Pages: 1   Go Up
  Print  
 
Jump to:  

Use of this web site in any manner signifies unconditional acceptance, without exception, of our terms of use.
Powered by SMF 1.1.13 | SMF © 2006-2011, Simple Machines LLC
 
Page created in 5.261 seconds with 19 queries.