A Cuban man named Greidys Sánchez has made a desperate plea from La Covadonga hospital in Havana, where his father remains hospitalized after surgery, without receiving essential care or medication to save his life. In a live-streamed video, Sánchez showed his father in bed number 10, having recently undergone surgery to remove 10 centimeters of his intestine. "Here is my dad vomiting fluid, and no one comes to the hospital. There's no metoclopramide, no medication, no Levin," he lamented, overwhelmed with anguish and helplessness.
Sánchez shared that his family had to purchase a trocar themselves because the hospital lacked one, yet no one informed them about the need for additional supplies. "If they had told me, I would have bought them, just like I bought the trocar. But they didn't say anything until just now. How long will this continue?" he questioned.
A Widespread Health Crisis
Sánchez's ordeal underscores the severe healthcare crisis in Cuba, where families are burdened with securing even the most basic necessities for their sick relatives. Recently, similar stories have surfaced, painting a grim reality.
Just days ago, a young woman posted a desperate letter about her father, who suffers from kidney issues and had no access to antibiotics in Cuban hospitals, watching him slowly deteriorate. "Daughter, your daddy is dying, please don't let me die," the man pleaded, as shared on social media.
Contradictions and Public Outcry
In Havana, another video revealed a makeshift garbage dump outside the Hermanos Ameijeiras hospital, a breeding ground for unsanitary conditions that starkly contrasts with official claims of "excellent healthcare" in Cuba.
Even those close to the government, like journalist Yirmara Torres, have broken their silence with accounts of medicine shortages, the collapse of basic services, and the population's growing despair. "We are a worn-out, tired, tortured people... but our patience has limits," she recently wrote on Facebook.
"Share this, I am living it live and direct. How long will this go on?" implored Greidys Sánchez beside his father's bed, a poignant symbol of the overwhelming challenges faced by countless Cuban families.
Cuba's Healthcare Crisis: Key Questions Answered
What is causing the healthcare crisis in Cuba?
The healthcare crisis in Cuba is primarily a result of resource shortages, inadequate infrastructure, and systemic failures within the socialist system that has led to a lack of basic medical supplies and poor hospital conditions.
How are Cuban families coping with the healthcare shortages?
Cuban families often have to resort to purchasing medical supplies out of pocket or seeking help from relatives abroad, as hospitals frequently lack even the most essential medications and equipment.
What official responses have been given regarding the healthcare collapse?
The Cuban government has largely remained silent or dismissive of the crisis, maintaining a narrative of "medicina de excelencia" while failing to address the systemic issues leading to the current healthcare collapse.
Are there any efforts to improve the situation?
There are small efforts by individuals and some organizations to provide aid, but without significant systemic changes or governmental intervention, improvements remain limited and slow.