An elderly war veteran, aged 78, who once served as a colonel and is a member of the Association of Combatants of the Cuban Revolution (ACRC), languishes without medical care in Guanabacoa, Havana. Despite his service, the Cuban regime denies him essential medicines and medical supplies. The situation was brought to light by opposition figure and former political prisoner José Díaz Silva, who publicly demanded urgent medical attention for the ailing veteran.
José García López, the veteran in question, fell ill with chikungunya and suffered a fall while bedridden, worsening his already critical condition.
Efforts by activists to secure a medical certificate at the local post, intended to request supplies from the Julio Antonio Mella Polyclinic in Guanabacoa, were met with a stark response: "there was nothing available."
The Stark Reality of Medical Neglect in Cuba
The grim irony is evident: despite the presence of medical supply warehouses in Guanabacoa, veterans who are sick and injured are left without assistance, according to those who have raised the alarm.
Currently, it is not the state that García López served that aids him, but rather activists from the Democracy Movement (MD), the Opposition Movement for a New Republic (MONR), the Assembly of the Cuban Resistance (ARC), and advocates from Cuba Decide.
"It is outrageous that those who once sacrificed their health and lives for the system are now treated worse than animals, forgotten and condemned to suffering," Díaz Silva expressed in his complaint.
The Broader Context of Health System Collapse
A photograph of García López’s ACRC membership card, bearing the signature of the late Commander of the Revolution Juan Almeida Bosque, highlights his past contributions to the regime, which now seems to neglect him.
Díaz Silva, a prominent figure in the Cuban opposition, was the leader of MONR and the Democracy Movement. He was arrested in March 2022, sentenced to two years of corrective labor, and arrived in Miami on December 24, 2022, with a humanitarian visa, facing imprisonment if he returned to Cuba. From exile, he continues to document human rights violations on the island.
The plight of García López is not unique. In January 2023, Rigoberto Sarmiento Guerrero, an 86-year-old veteran of the Rebel Army and founder of the PCC, was left bedridden for 21 days without medical care or a visit from the ACRC in Holguín. In April, the son of a Cuban combatant in Angola reported that his father's body remained unburied for over 24 hours at the Moa Cemetery due to neglect by authorities.
The collapse of the healthcare system exacerbates this neglect. The Minister of Public Health, José Ángel Portal Miranda, acknowledged the shortage of 461 out of 651 essential medicines, leaving only 30% of critical drugs available. Clinics lack basic supplies such as syringes and bandaging materials.
The Economic Strain on Veterans
Angola veterans, in particular, receive meager pensions ranging from 1,500 to 2,000 Cuban pesos each month—equivalent to less than four dollars on the informal market—insufficient to meet basic needs.
"José García López survives because of the solidarity of fellow activists, as medicines in Cuba are unaffordable for the populace," concluded Díaz Silva, demanding "immediate medical care, medications, and humane conditions" for the elderly colonel.
FAQs on the Healthcare Crisis in Cuba
What is the current state of healthcare in Cuba?
The Cuban healthcare system is facing a significant crisis, with severe shortages in essential medicines and medical supplies, leading to the neglect of vulnerable populations such as war veterans.
Who is José Díaz Silva?
José Díaz Silva is a Cuban opposition leader and former political prisoner, known for his activism and efforts to document human rights violations in Cuba. He currently resides in exile in Miami.
How are Cuban war veterans affected by the healthcare crisis?
Cuban war veterans, despite their past service, often face neglect and insufficient medical care due to a lack of resources and support from the regime, exacerbated by the healthcare system's collapse.