"Everything is delicious, everything is fine," says the Cuban known as El Dr Mulato while recording his pregnant wife during a hospitalization at a public hospital in Chile. The video, shared on social media, captures an intimate, everyday moment filled with family humor, highlighting the stark contrast between healthcare in that South American country and what many Cubans experience on the island.
The scene begins with him focusing on his partner lying in the hospital bed. “Here’s the pregnant one, you know,” he jokes. She immediately responds, “Oh come on, cut the nonsense.” He insists, “People want to know about you,” and she retorts sarcastically, “Who wants to know about me, huh?” The conversation flows with jokes about the state of the mattress, the hospital menu — including a “sugar-free” couscous that she rejects — and their desire to go home. “I miss my kids,” the woman repeats several times, while he tries to comfort her. “Look, there’s space for me here, let’s get some sleep,” he says. “No, the bed is too hard,” she replies. Amid laughter, they mention the baby’s kicks, the father’s sweet tooth, a pair of underwear in his pocket, and the inevitable farewell until the next day. “Are you going to leave me here alone until tomorrow?” she asks tenderly. “Until tomorrow at 10,” he answers. “Oh my God, how embarrassing… stop the video,” she concludes with a laugh.
In the comments, followers of the creator expressed their support and good wishes. Some messages celebrated the calmness of the hospital environment, while others contrasted the experience with what is lived in Cuba. "But how? If the socialists say that healthcare in Cuba is better than in Chile," questioned one user. Dr. Mulato himself responded to a critique with a harsh comparison: "In Cuba, there isn't even a mattress, the sheets are stained with secretions and fluids, there are no windows, and cockroaches visit you in the hospital."
This moment is part of a series of personal content shared by Dr. Mulato. Last January, he had already moved his followers by posting the reunion with his father after 12 years apart, after managing to get him out of Cuba and bring him to Chile. “I finally got you out of that prison island,” he wrote at that time. That story was covered by CiberCuba in a previous note, where the creator himself explained that he has not returned to Cuba since his departure and that his goal has been to get his entire family out of the country.
In recent months, a common narrative has emerged among Cubans who are sharing for the first time their experiences with public health systems outside the island. Influencer Maryfra, from Mexico, documented her impression upon seeing the cleanliness of the IMSS, including bathrooms with toilet paper and the option to choose the consultation time for her mother. In the United States, Flor de Cuba showcased the privacy, patient care, and use of interpreters for her grandmother during a medical appointment. And from Chile, other Cuban women have shared their surprises regarding basic services such as access to medical care and medications, or even with everyday details like having stable internet without sacrificing a month's salary.
This new video from El Dr Mulato, far from being dramatic, leans into humor and the complicity of a couple. Yet behind the laughter lies a real and contrasting experience: the experience of receiving dignified and humane medical attention in a system that, with its imperfections, offers conditions that many Cubans describe as unattainable in their home country.
Frequently Asked Questions About Healthcare in Cuba and the Experience of Cubans Abroad
How does Dr. Mulato describe medical care in Cuba compared to Chile?
Dr. Mulato describes medical care in Cuba as precarious, mentioning that in Cuban hospitals "there are no mattresses, the sheets are stained, and there are cockroaches", in contrast to the more positive experience he had in a public hospital in Chile.
What differences do Cuban emigrants highlight between the health systems of Cuba and those of other countries?
Cuban emigrants point out that in countries like Chile, the United States, and Mexico, there is a broader access to advanced medical treatments and personalized care, which contrasts with the limited availability of resources and the quality of care in Cuba.
How does the situation in Cuba impact the families of Cuban emigrants?
The situation in Cuba creates an economic dependence on the remittances sent by emigrants, but it also creates emotional tensions due to family separation and the expectations that relatives on the island have about the emigrants.
Why has the video of El Dr Mulato resonated so much on social media?
The video by El Dr Mulato has resonated on social media because, through humor and couple dynamics, it highlights the contrast between the dignity of healthcare in Chile and the unacceptable conditions in Cuba, a sensitive topic for many Cubans both on and off the island.
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