A public complaint by journalist José Luis Tan Estrada on Tuesday shed light on a troubling incident of neglect at the emergency unit of the Provincial Hospital in Camagüey.
According to Tan's report, a man, who appeared to be homeless, was found lying on a stretcher, exuding a strong odor, surrounded by flies, and left unattended despite expressing significant pain.
"A man lay on a stretcher, seemingly homeless, with a strong odor, surrounded by flies, and no one paid attention to him. He complained of severe pain, while doctors walked by without responding," detailed the publication.
The eyewitness expressed to Tan feeling "deeply shocked" by what he described as indifference to human suffering.
Broader Social Crisis Highlighted
The same report connects the incident to a broader social decline: in the city, the sight of elderly individuals on the streets — such as an old man behind the Hotel Plaza — mirrors the crisis engulfing the nation.
The Cuban Observatory of Human Rights (OCDH) contextualizes this situation in its Eighth Social Rights Report, indicating that 89% of Cubans live in extreme poverty, a condition exacerbated by epidemics and the devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa in the island's eastern region.
The OCDH has condemned the ongoing neglect of the most vulnerable sectors and demands urgent measures to ensure the dignity and survival of the population.
Institutional Response and Systemic Issues
The organization emphasizes that cases like the one at the Camagüey hospital are not isolated incidents but symptoms of a social emergency that exceed institutional response capabilities.
As of the report's publication, there had been no official statements from the medical facility regarding the incident at the emergency unit or the condition of the allegedly neglected patient.
The complaint concludes with a call to action, urging the public to not normalize such situations and to highlight cases of exclusion that, it warns, are multiplying amid the crisis.
Impact on the Elderly and Economic Struggles
Cuba remains the most aged nation in Latin America and the Caribbean. In this setting, retirees receive a pension of 4,000 pesos, equivalent to barely 9.5 dollars or less than 9 euros in the black market.
This means that the minimum pension in Cuba fails to cover what amounts to a single day's basic expenses in most countries.
Retirees are among the hardest-hit groups by the crisis. Without family remittances from abroad, sustaining themselves on what social security provides becomes virtually impossible.
Understanding the Crisis in Camagüey and Beyond
What prompted the report on the Camagüey hospital incident?
Journalist José Luis Tan Estrada reported witnessing a homeless man left unattended at the hospital, highlighting neglect and indifference to human suffering.
How does the Cuban Observatory of Human Rights view the situation in Cuba?
The OCDH views the situation as dire, with 89% of Cubans in extreme poverty, compounded by health crises and natural disasters, demanding urgent action to protect vulnerable populations.
What challenges do Cuban retirees face in the current crisis?
Cuban retirees struggle with insufficient pensions that do not meet basic daily expenses, making them one of the most affected groups without external financial support.