Cuba Health System Reforms
• Cuba - socialist country: World's last remaining socialist country following the Marxist-Leninist ideology. “Because Cuba has so few resources, prevention has become the only affordable means of keeping its population healthy.” Cuban health system is universal, free and accessible to all of its citizens. As was true of the other indigenous societies of the Americas, Cuban traditional medicine existed before the Spanish conquest. High status traditional practitioners were called Bohiques. After colonization, Cuban medicine followed the Spanish tradition. Chinese medicine has also been practiced in Cuba.
Milestones in Cuban Health System: 1959 Cuban Revolution
Foundation laid in 1960s:
Rural Health
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It is fully integrated and controlled by the government and its ministries. It has achieved its mission of reducing the health divide between various socio-economic groups. The system is under constant evaluation to meet the needs of the population in the most cost efficient manner and has never strayed from its original focus. Even though Cuba had been politically isolated it has generated its new resources and has withstood international pressure to evolve a system and create internal competition. The result has been creation of new sources of revenue for the country but not at the cost of health of the citizens. Cuba spends around 8.8 % of its GDP on health care out of which 93% is public and 7% is out of pocket. (3) National health programs are implemented throughout country with limited scope for deviation.
Aspects of Public Health in
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In 2001, 8 American students, all from low-income minority families, began their free medical education in Cuba, on the condition that they return to their communities for service.
Cuba has the highest family physician-to population ratio in the world, and it has a family physician-per-patient ratio of approximately 1:600. In the United States, the average family physician-per-population ratio is approximately 1:3200
References:
1. Canadian Medical Association Journal, 2001, 164(10): 1477and IFCO Medical School Scholarship Program @ Latin American School of Medicine
2. WHO 2011 updates, World Bank and the United Nations for
Economically, Cubans “enjoyed one of the one of the highest standards of living in Latin America” (34). This is predominately due to the fact that Cuba exported half its sugar and two-thirds of it total exports into the U.S., and imported three-fourths of their total imports from the U.S. Although the U.S. (35). Although the U.S. boosted the Cuban economy, Cubans resented that they were still living at an economic level lower than Americans. The average Cuban income was one- third the average of Mississippi, the poorest state in the U.S. in th...
The Cuban Revolution began in 1959 when a small group of guerrillas overthrew the dictatorship of Fulgencio Batista. There were several main goals to the revolution that revolved around improvement of the lives of Cuban citizens. Even though these goals were not all completely successful, most of the fundamentals of...
Cuba’s unpredictable shift toward socialism and its growing dependence on the Soviet Union divided both the leadership and the country at large. With a relationship dating back to before Fidel Castro’s installment into power, Russia and Cuba have both played major roles in the development and regression of each other’s economies and societies.
“What light is to the eyes - what air is to the lungs - what love is to the heart, freedom is to the soul of man” (Brainy Quotes). Light is essential to the eyes, love is what makes the heart beat, and freedom is the hope of man kind; all of which are essential to the happiness of humanity. Having to live without these rights is a difficult way of living. For example, Cubans have suffered time after time in pursuit of their freedom, but sadly they never accomplish their goal. They live in fear of their broken government, but never stop fighting for freedom. In the early 20th century, Cuba was a democracy. From 1940 to 1944 Fulgencio Batista, a Cuban politician, was Cuba’s president. In 1952 he decided to run again, but when it was apparent he’d lose, Batista seized power before the election took place. The citizens were outraged causing them to turn against their flawed democracy that was brought upon by the election. As a result, Fidel Castro, a communist revolutionary political man, began to plot Batista’s downfall. The Cuban Revolution, also known as Castro’s Revolution, began on July 26, 1952, and ended January, 1, 1959. After Batista, Cuba’s former president, fled the country, Castro took complete control and turned Cuba into a communist country. The Revolution brought upon: many deaths, censored news and publicity, and no freedom of speech. Throughout the years Castro stayed in power, but due to health issues originating on July 31, 2006, he had to step down. After Castro returned, he took control of Cuba up until February 19, 2008. He then abdicated his place as dictator and handed down his position to his brother, Raul Castro.
...rance. In America health care cost per person is $7000; whereas, in Cuba it was $251. Furthermore, Cuba has lower infant mortality rate than the U.S because they have an access to universal health care.
Nikelly A, 1988, Health Care in Cuba, University of Illinois, Illinios, Location: Kimberlin library, Short Loan S/L Offprint /NIK
The story of Haiti’s healthcare system is unfortunately tied all too closely to disaster, both man-made and nature-born. This paper will briefly discuss the pre-2010 earthquake healthcare environment in Haiti as the uncertainty that exists provides little opportunity to provide a reasoned understanding of its current national healthcare status.
World Health Organisation. (2002) The world health report 2002 - Reducing Risks, Promoting Healthy Life. [Online] Available from: http://www.who.int/whr/2002/en/whr02_en.pdf?ua=1 [accessed 19 May 2014]
Castor provides health care in all schools and in daycare. Cuba now has one doctor for every 172 people; one of the best ratios in the world. Cuban doctors have saved many children from childhood diseases. A Cuban tradition that is practiced is when a girl turns fifteen. "This day is more important than her wedding," said the girl"s proud father.
The Cuban revolution was one that transformed Cuba into an independent socialist society. This revolution sent a message around the globe. The message: “ Socialism can be achieved and capitalism, with its culture stripping mechanism’s can be supplemented”. However, the revolution did leave its mark on Cuba. This can be seen in the events that took place during the early stages of the revolution. The effects of the revolution were positive for certain sections of the population and negative for others.
Catholicism is the major religion of Cubans, which accounts for the 47% of the population, Protestants, 4%, Santeria, 2% and other African cults which are also being practiced by Catholics. The island’s political structure is Socialist republic and its official language is Spanish. The climate ranges from sub-tr...
-World Health Organization. 2013. Chronic disease. Available at: http://www. who.int/topics/chronic diseases/en/. Access date 1 December 2013.
World Health Organisation (2003) [online] [Accessed 6th December 2013] Available from World Wide Web: < http://www.who.int/about/definition/en/print.html>
I think that the government should come up with a way to fund Universal Health Care that is provided to each citizen. U.S healthcare cost about 7000 dollars a year for one person and 200 dollars a year for someone in Cuba. How is it that they are receiving quality healthcare and having to pay little to nothing for it. The government can find a way to treat the sick, teach, and care for the babies. All that has to be done is budget differently and look out for one
Cuba’s healthcare system is recognized worldwide for its excellence and its efficiency. Despite of very limited resources and the dramatic impact caused by the economic sanctions once imposed by the United States for more than half a century, Cuba achieved to universalize the access to healthcare for all the segment of population and obtain similar results to those more developed nations. The World Health Organization (WHO) remembers that the missing of medical attention in the world is not in any way a fatality produced by the lack of resources. Reflects, instead, a lack of political will on the part of leaders to protect their most vulnerable populations. Cuba bases its healthcare system in preventive medicine and the results are exceptional.