Fresh allegations of patient maltreatment at the Provincial Psychiatric Hospital "Dr. Luis San Juan Pérez" in Santa Clara have once again sparked concern about the state of mental health care in Cuba. This time, Cuban activist Avana De La Torre, who resides in Spain, brought to light the case of Yunior Rubio Pérez, a 41-year-old HIV-positive psychiatric patient, allegedly subjected to physical abuse by medical staff.
According to the victim's mother, Norma Pérez Vázquez, her son has numerous visible injuries, reportedly from being beaten in the hospital's ward nine. The complaint highlights not only physical abuse but also systemic violence and neglect that allegedly prevail in that ward. "His mother has directly witnessed the mistreatment. Yunior has been brutally beaten by those entrusted with his care," De La Torre stated on Facebook.
She also warned of a troubling pattern: many patients, in response to the hostile environment, attempt to escape, only to be forcibly returned and further assaulted.
Recent History of Abuse
This complaint comes just days after a video surfaced showing a worker at the same hospital repeatedly hitting a patient in apparent distress. The footage, shared on social media on April 10 by user Rubén Carrillo, caused widespread outrage. In it, the attacker, identified by authorities as H.B.C., is seen mercilessly striking a patient while demanding he "calm down." The video, recorded by another individual who remained passive, was also criticized by health officials.
The General Health Directorate in Villa Clara confirmed the authenticity of the incident, which took place about 35 days before the video's release. An interdisciplinary committee investigated the matter and held the assistant responsible, leading to his permanent dismissal from the hospital and referral to judicial authorities for potential criminal charges. Nonetheless, activists like De La Torre argue that these measures are insufficient and that what happened to Yunior Rubio indicates that these abuses are not isolated incidents but part of a pattern of institutional negligence and violence.
"The authorities have not taken concrete steps to improve the inhumane conditions within the hospital. The situation remains unchanged or has worsened," she claimed.
Medicine Shortages and Neglect
De La Torre also pointed out a critical shortage of essential psychiatric medications, which leaves patients without proper treatment for severe disorders like psychotic episodes, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and other conditions. This shortage, a recurring issue across other institutions in the country, contributes to the progressive deterioration of patients' mental health and increases the risk of crises for both patients and staff alike.
"The lack of antipsychotics, anxiolytics, and mood stabilizers not only prolongs suffering but also condemns these patients to extreme vulnerability," she wrote.
Official Reaction: A Questionable Commitment
In their latest statement, the Villa Clara Health Directorate assured their commitment to patient protection and promised to enhance supervision mechanisms to prevent future incidents. However, this promise contrasts with recurring allegations like Yunior Rubio's, which reflect ongoing abuses even after the previous case's investigation.
Beyond the dismissal of the aggressor caught on video and the official statement, no structural changes in the hospital's operation or staff oversight have been reported. There has also been no information on the implementation of crisis management protocols, ethical training, or improvements in living conditions for the patients.
A System in Crisis
The case of Yunior Rubio Pérez is merely the tip of the iceberg in a much deeper crisis within Cuba's mental health system. Over recent years, human rights organizations and patients' families have reported abandonment, overcrowding, poor nutrition, inadequate hygiene, and dehumanizing treatment in several psychiatric hospitals across the country. The Santa Clara hospital had previously been criticized for these same issues.
This week's events confirm that despite statements and isolated sanctions, structural failures persist, and the protection of patients' human rights remains an unfulfilled obligation of the Cuban state. Meanwhile, families, activists, and international observers are calling for greater transparency, external oversight, and political will to tackle a problem that affects the most vulnerable and represents, according to many, one of the harshest aspects of the island's collapsing healthcare system.
Understanding the Crisis in Cuban Mental Health Care
What sparked the recent allegations of abuse at the Santa Clara Psychiatric Hospital?
The allegations were brought to light by activist Avana De La Torre, who shared the case of Yunior Rubio Pérez, a psychiatric patient allegedly subjected to physical abuse by medical staff.
What are the main issues facing psychiatric patients in Cuba?
Patients face critical shortages of essential medications, systemic violence, neglect, overcrowding, and inadequate living conditions, all of which contribute to a deterioration in mental health care.
How have authorities responded to the abuse allegations?
Authorities have dismissed the responsible staff member and promised to improve supervision, yet critics argue that more structural changes are necessary to prevent further incidents.