The inquiry was straightforward: if no one trades hard currency for small change, what do private companies stand to gain by participating in the reconstruction of Cuba's healthcare system? Julio César Alfonso, the president of Solidaridad Sin Fronteras, provided a clear response during an interview with CiberCuba, where journalist Tania Costa questioned the real incentives behind the "911 Cuba" program.
"The companies involved will secure contracts and financial benefits to operate within the Island as the healthcare system, along with the entire governmental and industrial infrastructure, is established," Alfonso stated.
He clarified that the returns extend beyond the healthcare sector. Investors in medical reconstruction will be well-positioned to engage with the entire Cuban economy once the country operates like any other nation worldwide.
"Entrepreneurs think long-term. They make an investment without a set timeframe for returns. Once the political and industrial infrastructure is in place across all sectors of the Cuban economy and society, operations will commence just like in any other country," he elaborated.
Alfonso's argument hinges on one assumption: a Cuba freed from dictatorship would replicate, on a national scale, the prosperity model already demonstrated by Cubans in exile.
"Cuba is a very interesting and receptive country, and the future of Cuba is already being tested in Miami," he said.
"Miami acts as a laboratory showcasing what individuals can achieve in a free country. Cubans have proven their capabilities," Alfonso concluded, summarizing both the business rationale and the political gamble behind the initiative.
The "911 Cuba" program was publicly launched in Hialeah by Solidaridad Sin Fronteras and Cruz Verde Internacional, with La Colonia Medical Center as an institutional partner.
The initiative includes an initial phase of free humanitarian assistance—with field hospitals and volunteer medical staff—and a second phase of structural reconstruction involving private companies from the United States, Europe, Australia, and Canada.
The driving force behind this plan is the severe collapse of the system.
Alfonso pointed out that hospitals in Cuba operate under wartime conditions due to power outages, noting that no other country he's worked in—including Haiti and various African nations—faces the dire conditions found on the Island.
In 2025, Cuba's own Ministry of Public Health acknowledged a mere 30% medication coverage, while independent records documented at least 87 deaths from arboviral diseases between October and November of that year, compared to the 33 deaths officially reported.
Understanding the Economic Incentives for Rebuilding Cuba's Healthcare
What are the financial benefits for companies investing in Cuba's healthcare system?
Companies stand to gain contractual and financial benefits, enabling them to operate within Cuba as its healthcare and industrial infrastructures are developed.
How does the "911 Cuba" program plan to address the healthcare crisis?
The program consists of an initial phase of free humanitarian aid, followed by a structural reconstruction phase with international private companies.
Why is Cuba's healthcare system considered to be in such dire condition?
Cuba's healthcare system is collapsing due to severe conditions, including power outages affecting hospitals and inadequate medication coverage.