The outrage caused by the critical situation of the child Damir Ortiz, who was transferred in critical condition to the United States to receive medical care, has forced the Cuban regime to publicly acknowledge the shortcomings of the healthcare system.
"We don't have it all", admitted the official spokesperson Humberto López on the Cuban Television News, in a comment that has sparked even more criticism towards the country's hospital institutions.
However, the “we don’t have it all”, said by the “star” host of the official propaganda, has been interpreted as a late confession of an unbearable reality: the shortage of medical resources is costing lives.
As has happened on previous occasions, López addressed the scandal with an ambiguous speech that fluctuated between superficial criticism and a staunch defense of the system .
He acknowledged that in Cuban hospitals "we are filled with difficulties, we have shortages, a lack of supplies", and admitted that "sometimes the treatment is not the best either".
But he quickly clarified these statements with a justifying narrative, appealing to the service that doctors provide on the island. “Generally, they are very selfless people (...) who cry if they need to cry and who will come up with whatever they have to in order to find a solution to the problem we present to them.”
López also hurried to point out that “it has never been said that Cuban medicine is perfect”, nor that “all problems are resolved”. He added that “if you ask me why they didn't say that, I would say: they cannot say it because if they do, they would be telling lies”.
However, during the same appearance, López issued a direct warning to those who report irregularities in medical care in the country, pointing out that they could face legal penalties.
These threats occur within a context of increasing restrictions on freedom of expression in Cuba, where the Decree Law 35 imposes several limitations on the dissemination of information on the internet.
THE DAMIR CASE: A SYMBOL OF ABANDONMENT
The mother of Damir Ortiz, a 10-year-old Cuban boy, Eliannis Ramírez, reported that in Cuba he received incorrect diagnoses and inadequate treatments, which jeopardized his life.
After an intense social media campaign and the intervention of activists, Damir was transferred to a hospital in Miami, where he was accurately diagnosed and began receiving the necessary treatment.
Ramírez has maintained that the child arrived in septic condition due to an undetected lung bacteria in Cuba, and that the diagnosis of leukemia they had given was incorrect.
These reports have highlighted the serious deficiencies in the Cuban healthcare system and have generated a wave of outrage both inside and outside the island.
In response to the criticism, the Cuban Ministry of Public Health (MINSAP) defended in a televised appearance the care provided to Damir, blaming the mother for interfering with the child's treatment.
Officials and doctors stated that all medical decisions were made by consensus and that the priority has always been the child's well-being.
However, these statements have been viewed by many as a strategy from the government to manipulate information and dismiss criticism.
On her part, Ramírez refuted the doctors who attacked her on Cuban Television, stating that her son was a victim of medical negligence in Cuba and that they were letting him die.
He pointed out that the doctors shown on television did not attend to his son directly and that since he began to publicly denounce the case on social media, the regime has stopped providing adequate care.
The regime has also attacked Dr. Miguel Ángel Ruano Sánchez, a specialist in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation exiled in Colombia, who has been one of the most critical voices regarding the health crisis in Cuba.
The Cuban Society of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation accused him of falsifying his curriculum vitae and of engaging in inappropriate conduct during a medical event in 2008.
Ruano responded emphatically, denying the accusations and denouncing a "media lynching" against him for political reasons.
Frequently Asked Questions about the case of the boy Damir and the crisis of the Cuban healthcare system
What is the current situation of the healthcare system in Cuba?
The healthcare system in Cuba is facing a serious crisis of resources and medical care, as evidenced by cases like that of the child Damir Ortiz. Despite the official propaganda portraying it as an exemplary model, there are reports of a lack of medications, incorrect diagnoses, and inadequate treatments. The reality of these shortages has even been acknowledged by spokespeople for the regime, leading to a growing wave of criticism both inside and outside the island.
What happened to the boy Damir Ortiz in Cuba?
Damir Ortiz, a 10-year-old Cuban boy, received misdiagnoses and inadequate treatments in Cuba, putting his life at risk. Although he was diagnosed with leukemia, he actually did not suffer from it. His mother reported that medical care in Cuba was insufficient, making his transfer to the United States essential for receiving the proper treatment.
How did the Damir case influence social media and public opinion?
The case of Damir Ortiz has become a symbol of the deficiencies in the Cuban healthcare system and has generated a wave of outrage on social media. The complaints from his mother and activists regarding the lack of adequate care, as well as the bureaucratic hurdles imposed by the regime, have been widely shared and discussed. This case has highlighted the shortcomings of the Cuban healthcare system and has encouraged more families to make their health issues known through social media.
What measures has the Cuban regime taken in response to criticisms of its healthcare system?
In the face of criticism, the Cuban regime has chosen legal threats and media manipulation. Government spokespeople have issued warnings to those who denounce the irregularities in the healthcare system, suggesting potential legal consequences. Additionally, there have been television appearances to justify the medical care provided, although many have viewed these as attempts at cover-up and information manipulation.
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