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The desperation of the sick in Cuba continues to resonate on social media, where citizens are denouncing a collapsed healthcare system that is lacking even the most basic supplies.
This time, the user identified as Mlgn Con Rdguez, who shared her bitter experience in the Facebook group "Madres Cubanas Luchadoras," reported that after months of waiting to undergo a vital hormonal analysis, the response she received at the hospital was that "there are no tubes for the blood."
"According to the doctor who is treating me, I supposedly have hyperthyroidism. I don’t have treatment because I haven’t been able to undergo the hormonal study, despite feeling very unwell and losing weight," she reported.
After two months of waiting for the lab test, he went to the hospital with the doctor's order in hand, but a technician closed the door on him with a devastating argument: "That is done in Havana, and we don't have any tubes here."
Even the doctor attending to her confirmed the situation: the hospital does not have something as basic as a container to collect and transport the sample.
"I couldn't believe it... after waiting so long, the agony continues. Only those who have experienced a hormonal imbalance know how unbearable it is," wrote the patient, who directly blamed the government and the Ministry of Public Health for her condition.
Is a pipe more valuable than a life?
In his message, Mlgn did not merely describe his personal drama but also targeted the highest figures of the regime.
"I hold the Cuban healthcare system responsible if anything happens to me. I also hold the minister, Díaz-Canel, Marrero, and Raúl accountable, who have this country in ruin, where there aren't even tubes for blood tests. Stop strolling around, Canel, and take care of the issues here. If not, get out, because nobody can stand you," he expressed.
She questions, with so many donations coming into Cuba, why there isn’t something as simple as a tube for collecting blood. "Is that so difficult? Is a vial for blood worth more than a person? Can’t they spend money on these little tubes? Is it better for the patient to die?"
His post includes a personal photo "so that no one says I'm hiding," as a way to publicly document his complaint.
An illness that does not wait
Hyperthyroidism, caused by the excessive production of thyroid hormones, leads to palpitations, weight loss, extreme nervousness, and cardiovascular complications.
Without a proper diagnosis and timely treatment, the risks to the patient's life increase.
The woman explained that her only current medication is Propranolol, prescribed to alleviate the rapid heartbeat caused by the illness. However, without access to hormone analysis, she cannot start a specific therapy to halt the decline in her health.
A crisis that affects everyone
The case generated a wave of solidarity as well as outrage among other patients who shared their stories.
An emigrant suffering from hypothyroidism recalled that she experienced the same thing. "I only received proper care when I left Cuba."
A woman from Havana recounted that her mother was prescribed a treatment without any prior tests, which caused adverse reactions. "I don't understand how medicine works in this country," she stated.
A self-employed worker who also suffers from hyperthyroidism revealed that she often goes without being able to have her tests done. "And I have to buy the medication on the street, because I've never been able to buy them at the pharmacy anymore."
An elderly woman remarked ironically, "With the price of Machy's glasses, you could buy those little tubes."
Another woman pointed out that she has been waiting for a colonoscopy for two and a half years: "If I were to recount all my experiences with the healthcare system, I would have enough material for a book."
The pattern is always the same: a lack of basic supplies, long waits, and a neglect that drives patients to desperation.
The collapse of the "medical power"
The drama recounted by Mlgn Con Rdguez is just another episode in the collapse of public health in Cuba, which for decades has been used as official propaganda.
Today, hospitals are operating without gloves, without scalpels, without reagents or test tubes; this has become the norm, while the government insists on blaming the "blockade" and denies its own inefficiency and corruption.
Meanwhile, citizens like this hyperthyroid patient are caught between endless waiting and the risk of dying from a lack of the most basic necessities.
Her complaint, filled with pain and courage, encapsulates what millions of Cubans live in silence: a system that has stopped caring for its people and cannot even guarantee a simple blood test.
Frequently asked questions about the collapse of the healthcare system in Cuba
Why are there no basic supplies in Cuban hospitals?
The lack of basic supplies in Cuban hospitals is a result of a structural crisis in the healthcare system. This crisis is acknowledged by the Ministry of Public Health itself, which admits to a shortage of medications and supplies, worsened by management issues, corruption, and the U.S. embargo, although critics point to the regime's internal inefficiency as the main cause.
How does the lack of supplies affect patients with hyperthyroidism in Cuba?
The lack of supplies prevents patients with hyperthyroidism in Cuba from receiving proper diagnosis and treatment. Without the necessary hormonal tests due to the absence of blood sample tubes, patients cannot begin specific treatments, putting their health and quality of life in serious jeopardy.
What is the situation of patients with chronic illnesses in Cuba?
Patients with chronic diseases in Cuba face inadequate care due to a lack of resources and trained medical personnel. Cases of individuals with cancer, kidney failure, and other chronic conditions reveal a serious shortage of medications, equipment, and the need to turn to the black market to obtain basic supplies.
What actions have Cuban citizens taken in response to the health crisis?
Cuban citizens have turned to social media to denounce the shortcomings of the healthcare system. These complaints aim to highlight the lack of supplies, the poor conditions in hospitals, and the mistreatment experienced, hoping to provoke change or receive international assistance.
What has the Cuban government done to address the healthcare system crisis?
The Cuban government has acknowledged the crisis, but has placed much of the blame on the U.S. embargo rather than on internal failures. Although it has promised to improve the situation, concrete actions have been insufficient, maintaining a rhetoric that does not align with the reality experienced by the citizens.
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