A video circulated on Facebook exposes the appalling conditions faced by patients at Santa Clara Psychiatric Hospital: lack of cleanliness, insufficient care, and an infestation of pests.
The footage reveals an individual lying on a bed with merely a mat—far from a proper mattress—partially covered by a sheet, while numerous insects crawl around them.
This alarming report was made by actress Lizandra Martín Martín, who highlighted that areas 2 (Las Minas) and 9 of the hospital are overrun with bedbugs.
She detailed how patients have suffered from bites and many are forced to sleep directly on the floor.
"The Provincial Health Directorate has been made aware of the situation, complete with videos and evidence. The issue reached the Party, they visited... and that's where it ended. Nothing changed after they saw the problem," Martín expressed with frustration.
Lizandra voiced her exasperation over the incompetence and lack of empathy from officials failing in their duties.
"The patients at Santa Clara Psychiatric Hospital are human beings. They deserve cleanliness, respect, and decent care. I demand an immediate and public response. Action needs to be taken now," she insisted.
The stark imagery starkly contradicts official narratives of a supposed "medical prowess." What is evident is the harsh reality of Cuba's healthcare system: neglect, poverty, and dehumanization.
This incident adds to a growing number of scandals in the nation's psychiatric hospitals.
In April, another video showcased an employee at the same facility assaulting a patient during a crisis episode.
In Santiago de Cuba, a similar incident at the Gustavo Machín "Jagua" hospital depicted an elderly man overwhelmed by insects on his bed.
In Guantánamo, relatives have reported the absence of critical medical equipment, such as a non-operational electroconvulsive therapy device for months.
These occurrences reveal a healthcare system in collapse, lacking medicines, cleaning supplies, with exhausted and demotivated staff, and patients facing unsanitary conditions.
Many cleaning staff positions remain unfilled due to meager wages and poor working conditions, exacerbating hygiene issues in hospitals and nursing homes.
Despite the complaints, the government fails to offer solutions. Many Cubans criticize that after such images are published, authorities often punish those who dare to speak out instead of addressing the situation.
The result is a deplorable scene: forgotten patients, living among insects, with no care or hope.
What once was a national pride now stands as a symbol of collapse.
In a country the regime still touts as a model of public health, the Santa Clara Psychiatric Hospital now epitomizes the downfall of a system and the total abandonment of the most vulnerable. And the State, which should be their protector, turns a blind eye.
Understanding the Crisis at Cuban Psychiatric Hospitals
What conditions are patients facing in Santa Clara Psychiatric Hospital?
Patients are enduring unsanitary conditions, lack of proper care, and infestations of pests such as bedbugs. Many sleep on mats rather than mattresses and some directly on the floor.
How have authorities responded to the conditions at the hospital?
Although the Provincial Health Directorate and the Party have been informed, no significant changes have been made to improve the situation. There is a lack of effective response from the authorities.
What broader issues do these conditions highlight about Cuba's healthcare system?
The conditions highlight a healthcare system in crisis, characterized by a shortage of medicines, cleaning supplies, and critical medical equipment, along with exhausted staff and overall neglect.