Another assault on a patient at the psychiatric hospital in Santa Clara has been reported

A new report of mistreatment of patients at the Provincial Psychiatric Hospital "Dr. Luis San Juan Pérez" in Santa Clara has once again raised concerns about the quality of care in mental health institutions in Cuba.

This time, the Cuban activist Avana De La Torre, who resides in Spain, revealed through social media the case of Yunior Rubio Pérez, a 41-year-old man living with HIV and suffering from psychiatric issues, who allegedly fell victim to a physical assault by medical staff.

According to the mother of the affected individual, Norma Pérez Vázquez, her son has multiple visible injuries resulting from the blows he allegedly received inside room nine of the hospital.

The complaint not only refers to physical abuse but also to the environment of systematic violence and neglect that, it claims, prevails in that room.

"His mother has directly witnessed the abuse. Yunior has been brutally beaten by those who are supposed to take care of him," De La Torre stated on Facebook.

It also warned about a concerning practice: many patients, facing hostile conditions, attempt to escape, and when they are captured, they are forcibly returned and attacked again.

A recent history of abuse

The complaint arises just days after a video surfaced showing a worker from the same hospital repeatedly hitting a patient in apparent crisis.

The recording, shared on social media on April 10 by user Rubén Carrillo, sparked widespread outrage. It shows the aggressor, identified by authorities as H.B.C., mercilessly beating a patient while demanding that he "calm down."

The video was recorded by another person present, whose passive attitude was also condemned by health authorities.

The General Directorate of Health in Villa Clara confirmed the authenticity of the incident, which occurred approximately 35 days before the video was published.

An interdisciplinary commission investigated the incident and determined the responsibility of the assistant, who has been permanently removed from the hospital and whose case has been referred to judicial authorities for possible criminal prosecution.

However, activists like De La Torre argue that these measures are insufficient and that what happened to Yunior Rubio demonstrates that abuses are not isolated incidents, but rather part of a pattern of negligence and institutionalized violence.

"The authorities have not taken concrete measures to improve the inhumane conditions of the hospital. The situation remains the same or worse," he/she reported.

Shortage of medications and neglect

One of the most serious issues highlighted by De La Torre is the critical shortage of essential psychiatric medications, leaving patients without adequate treatments for severe disorders such as psychotic episodes, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or other conditions.

This shortcoming, which has been repeatedly reported in other institutions across the country, contributes to the progressive deterioration of the mental health of those admitted and increases the risk of crisis episodes for both patients and staff.

"The shortage of antipsychotics, anxiolytics, and mood stabilizers not only perpetuates suffering but also condemns these patients to a state of extreme vulnerability," he wrote.

Official reaction: a questioned commitment

In its most recent statement, the Villa Clara Health Department affirmed its commitment to protecting patients and promised to strengthen oversight mechanisms to prevent similar incidents in the future.

However, this promise contrasts with the repeated complaints like those of Yunior Rubio, which reflect the persistence of abuses even after the previous case's investigation.

Beyond the dismissal of the aggressor captured in the video and the official statement, no information has been provided regarding structural changes in the hospital’s operations or in the monitoring of its personnel.

There has also been no information regarding the implementation of crisis management protocols, ethical training, or improvements in the living conditions of inmates.

A system in crisis

The case of Yunior Rubio Pérez is just the tip of the iceberg of a much deeper crisis in the Cuban mental health system.

In recent years, human rights organizations and families of patients have reported practices of neglect, overcrowding, poor nutrition, inadequate hygiene, and inhumane treatment in several psychiatric hospitals across the country.

The Santa Clara hospital had already been pointed out for these same reasons before.

What happened this week confirms that, despite the statements and specific sanctions, structural flaws persist, and the protection of patients' human rights remains an outstanding obligation of the Cuban state.

Meanwhile, family members, activists, and international observers are calling for greater transparency, external oversight, and political will to address a problem that affects the most vulnerable and which, according to many, represents one of the cruelest aspects of the collapse of the healthcare system on the island.

Frequently Asked Questions about Mistreatment in Psychiatric Hospitals in Cuba