The dire social situation in Cuba is becoming increasingly apparent through shocking images. A concerned CiberCuba reader sent a letter and a revealing photograph to our editorial team, highlighting the distressing conditions outside the Piti Fajardo Theater, part of the Hospital Clínico Quirúrgico Comandante Manuel Fajardo in Havana.
The photo reveals several individuals sleeping on the ground, exposed to the elements. These people are likely awaiting specialized medical care or supporting the recovery of hospitalized patients.
The account received suggests that these individuals "might be patients from other provinces" who have traveled to the capital seeking consultations, tests, or surgical procedures.
The letter criticizes, "The hospital authorities seem indifferent to having people in such conditions outside their workplace; at the very least, a measure of solidarity could be shown."
With the lack of efficient transportation and the inability to afford accommodation in Havana—where prices far exceed the average salary in Cuban pesos (CUP)—many patients or their families have no other option but to spend the night outside the hospital.
"Their fate is to sleep on the floor, risking worsening their already precarious health," the complainant laments.
"This is the state of Cuba. It would be interesting to see how they justify this on Con Filo," the letter continues, referencing the official program that criticizes independent Cuban media for allegedly misrepresenting the country's reality.
The sight of individuals sleeping on the ground underscores not only the deterioration of the national health system, which fails to provide basic waiting and lodging conditions for patients, but also the breakdown of interprovincial transportation, forcing many Cubans to travel days in advance to secure a medical appointment.
While the official rhetoric continues to tout healthcare "achievements," the reality is stark: citizens must resort to sleeping on the streets to access essential medical care.
Understanding the Healthcare Crisis in Cuba
Why are people sleeping outside the hospital in Havana?
Due to a lack of resources and efficient transportation, many who travel from other provinces for medical care cannot afford accommodation and are forced to sleep outside the hospital.
What does this situation reveal about Cuba's healthcare system?
The situation highlights the deterioration of Cuba's healthcare system, which cannot provide adequate waiting and lodging facilities for patients, reflecting broader systemic failures.