The Cuban regime reacts with threats to reports about its deteriorating healthcare system

The Cuban regime reacted with legal threats in response to the increasing reports about the serious crisis in the public health system on the island.

In a broadcast of the Cuban Television News, the official spokesperson Humberto López led a segment titled "Cuba rejects the smear campaign against Cuban medicine," in which he issued a direct warning to those who report irregularities in medical care in the country.

López referred to a statement from the Governing Board of the Cuban Society of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, which dismissed the criticisms made by the Cuban doctor Miguel Ángel Ruano Sánchez, who is based in Colombia.

He left threats to the doctor, without mentioning his name, warning him that the Cuban government allegedly has evidence proving that he is an unethical person and that "they could be used to warn Colombians."

Threats from the Constitution

Humberto López, in his role as spokesperson for the regime, stated that the Constitution of the Republic of Cuba protects individuals and institutions against questioning on social media, specifically citing articles 45 and 48.

He emphasized that those who publicly report irregularities or medical errors could face legal consequences. "Those who play with something as sacred as health should face the consequences they deserve," said López.

He warned that the Cuban government may enforce the law against those it considers to be exposing institutions or medical professionals on social media or other media platforms. He used a defiant tone, but did not provide details about the legal framework that would allow for such retaliation.

These statements from López come at a time of heightened social sensitivity, following the viral case of the Cuban child Damir Ortiz, who was transferred in critical condition from Havana to a hospital in Miami, where he is now receiving oncological treatment.

"Lacking everything we are missing..."

In the news broadcast, López acknowledged the shortcomings of the public health system in Cuba, but on social media, he attempted to humanize his stance with a message full of silences and ambiguities. "With everything that we lack and all that we have too much of," he said.

He added that if a child, even rejected by the U.S. system, were to arrive in Cuba in need of medical attention, "Cuban doctors would welcome him with open arms."

The comment was interpreted by many as an attempt to divert attention from the real scandal, which is actually the allegations of abandonment, medical negligence, and manipulation in the case of Damir Ortiz.

The response of the reported doctor

From Colombia, Dr. Miguel Ángel Ruano reacted strongly to his mention on national television. "I am the 'practicing' physician and I have my own name. I am Dr. Ruano. And where are the proofs of my alleged crimes?" he wrote on his social media, adding: "Lots of talk and no proof! We continue the fight. Down with the dictatorship!".

Ruano, along with other professionals and activists, has denounced the lack of medications, incorrect diagnoses, and structural deficiencies in Cuban hospitals, often supported by patient testimonies.

The Damir Case: Turning Point

The catalyst for this campaign was the case of the boy Damir Ortiz, who was sick for years in Cuba without receiving an accurate diagnosis. His mother claims that the Ministry of Public Health (MINSAP) violated her and her son's privacy by discussing the matter on television without consent.

"They were letting him die," Eliannis Ramírez stated, explaining that once in the United States, Damir began to improve thanks to proper treatment. During the press conference on Monday in Miami, he detailed the medical negligence experienced in Cuba, such as poorly performed biopsies, incorrect diagnoses, and a shortage of medications that he had to obtain on his own.

Furthermore, she reported that since she began to raise her voice on social media, the regime ignored her and launched a campaign to discredit her.

Support from civil society

Activists such as Diasniurka Salcedo Verdecia joined Ramírez at the conference, reminding everyone that in Cuba, two million pesos were raised to help the child, demonstrating the power of social media and popular solidarity.

"This is what the regime fears, which is why they are now issuing threats disguised as legality," said Salcedo, who also denounced that the doctors who appeared on television to attack the mother are included in the list of repressors for collaborating in the government's media campaigns.

Official manipulation and concealment

The MINSAP insisted that the medical decisions regarding Damir were made by consensus and blamed the mother for not authorizing certain procedures. However, Ramírez maintains that the system failed at all levels and that her son is alive thanks to his ability to leave the country.

The mother also emphasized that the doctors shown on television never personally attended to Damir and that the biopsy was indeed performed at the Neurology Institute, where he also received a false diagnosis of leukemia.

In a final plea, the Cuban mother urged other families to publicly report incidents and not to blindly trust what the doctors of the state system say. "A mother has the duty to defend her child with the truth, no matter the cost."

Frequently Asked Questions about the Crisis of the Cuban Health System and the Case of Child Damir Ortiz