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In the midst of an epidemiological and hospital crisis affecting the entire island, Cuban health authorities showcased in Matanzas alleged advancements of the healthcare system during the visit of the president of MediCuba Europa, Swiss oncologist Franco Cavalli.
The tour, reported by the official outlet Periódico Girón, included the Faustino Pérez Provincial Clinical Surgical Teaching Hospital, where Cavalli met with sector officials and learned about the "main achievements" obtained thanks to the "solidarity of international organizations."
The hospital director, Taymí Martínez Naranjo, stated that the improvements "are reflected in our indicators and also in the work environment for the staff." She added that investments in technological infrastructure "result in better care for patients."
During the visit, Cavalli emphasized the "inequality between poor and rich countries regarding cancer treatment and survival," and insisted on the importance of early diagnosis. He also mentioned the need to "have a snapshot of the situation in Cuba" in order to prepare a global cooperation program, stating that his organization aims to "increase assistance in the fields of Neonatology and Pediatrics."
However, while official media highlighted the supposed advancements of the health system in Matanzas, dozens of internet users expressed frustration and anger in response to the publication. "It would be good to ensure access to controlled medications and medical diets, especially for cancer patients," wrote one user. Others labeled the news as a "joke" and a "shame," denouncing that "there have been no medications in pharmacies since March" and that hospitals "lack supplies even to treat a wound."
The reactions reflect a widespread sentiment in the country, where the shortage of medicines, the precarious state of hospitals, and the simultaneous outbreak of dengue and chikungunya have worsened the healthcare collapse. In recent days, Deputy Minister Carilda Peña García stated that the Cuban healthcare system is “better than that of many countries”, despite acknowledging a national outbreak of arbovirus infections with dozens of fatalities, including several minors. According to official data, more than 39,000 people have fallen ill with chikungunya and dengue across the 14 provinces of the country.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Health, José Ángel Portal Miranda, led ceremonial events in Havana to award medals and honors to workers in the sector, amidst the epidemiological crisis. During those same days, state media highlighted symbolic donations of mattresses or equipment to hospitals, coinciding with celebrations for the Day of Latin American Medicine.
The reality of hospitals, however, contrasts sharply with official propaganda. Images released from health centers in Santiago de Cuba depict collapsed bathrooms, accumulated dirt, and a lack of basic supplies in emergency rooms. At the Hospital de Contramaestre, patients and families reported that “there are no medicines, no water, and no minimum hygienic conditions,” and that the medical staff “work abandoned, without resources.”
Meanwhile, doctors inside and outside of Cuba are warning about an increase in severe pneumonia cases and deaths without diagnoses. Cuban specialist Lázaro Elieser Leyva has called for “international health assistance” to address the situation, alerting that professionals lack diagnostic tools and that many cases remain without clinical explanation.
The visit of the president of MediCuba Europa to Matanzas takes place within a context of widespread precariousness, characterized by overwhelmed hospitals, blackouts, shortages of medication, and a growing distrust in institutions. The contrast between official events and the daily experiences of thousands of Cubans once again highlights the gap between the regime's rhetoric and the country's health reality.
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