A Cuban man named Junior Puertas has taken to Facebook to reveal the tragic death of his five-month-old twin nephews, pointing the finger at the negligence and logistical failures of Cuba's healthcare system, along with a severe shortage of essential medications.
"I hadn't spoken out out of respect for their parents, but the entire world needs to know that poor management and negligence in Cuban hospitals led to the death of my five-month-old nephews, twins, for those who need to know," Puertas expressed in his post, choosing not to disclose the specific hospital or province where the heartbreaking incident took place.
Puertas further voiced his frustration over the lack of medical resources, stating, "Five months of these little angels fighting, and the damned blood never arrived. Yet there's always fuel for their charades and medicine for their children," directly criticizing the authorities.
"When you experience what these parents and the family endured, then we can talk, okay?" he added, delivering a scathing critique of the system.
In the comments section of his post, Puertas reiterated his allegations, claiming that the necessary blood was available but failed to reach the hospital due to logistical issues, despite the twins needing it more than six hours in advance.
He clarified that his blame does not lie with the doctors but with the Cuban healthcare system itself, whose deterioration, he argued, directly impacts families like his own.
This case adds to a growing list of complaints about the declining state of Cuba's healthcare system.
In July 2025, Cuba's health minister acknowledged a continuous rise in infant mortality rates, a trend that authorities have admitted but have yet to successfully address.
The situation in Cuban hospitals is dire. Recently, negligence at the blood bank of Hospital Lenin, one of the country's major healthcare facilities, was reported, highlighting the widespread collapse of medical infrastructure.
The scarcity of medications exacerbates the situation. Recent reports indicate that only about 3% of the population could find the medications they needed, underscoring the breakdown of the pharmaceutical supply system on the island.
Cuban families often find themselves pleading for donations of basic medical supplies to care for their hospitalized loved ones due to the lack of resources in the nation's health centers.
Statistics paint a grim picture. Cuba ended 2025 with an infant mortality rate that alarms experts and international agencies, making the death of infants like Junior Puertas' nephews a tragically common occurrence across the island.
Understanding the Crisis in Cuba's Healthcare System
What are the main issues facing Cuba's healthcare system?
Cuba's healthcare system struggles with severe medication shortages, poor management, and logistical issues, which have led to a decline in care quality and increased infant mortality rates.
How are families in Cuba coping with healthcare shortages?
Many Cuban families are forced to solicit donations for basic medical supplies to provide care for their hospitalized relatives, due to the lack of resources in healthcare facilities.