Miguel Díaz-Canel, the leader of Cuba, made an appearance at the Ramón González Coro University Gynecology and Obstetrics Hospital in Havana on Friday. This hospital is the nation's leading center for gynecology, obstetrics, and neonatology. The official narrative framed this visit as part of Díaz-Canel's routine inspections of national institutions.
He was joined by Vice Prime Minister Eduardo Martínez Díaz, Health Minister José Ángel Portal Miranda, and Communications Minister Mayra Arevich Marín, as reported by the Cuban News Agency.
This visit occurs during a severe decline in Cuba's maternal and infant healthcare system, the worst in decades. The infant mortality rate reached 9.9 per 1,000 live births by the end of 2025, the highest in over twenty years, compared to 7.1 in 2024 and 4.0 in 2018, marking a 148% decline over seven years.
Maternal mortality also increased to 44.1 per 100,000 live births in 2025, up from 40.6 the previous year, according to official statistics.
Portal Miranda, who accompanied Díaz-Canel, admitted back in February that the healthcare system is "on the brink of collapse."
During the tour of hospitalization wards and telemedicine consults, Díaz-Canel attributed the shortages to the U.S. embargo, claiming it hinders care for over 67,000 newborns, 34,000 pregnant women, and more than 100,000 cancer patients, including 1,200 children.
He also acknowledged that the surgical waiting list exceeds 96,500 patients, including 12,000 children, and praised what he called the "creative resistance" of healthcare workers.
"No blackout can extinguish hope, and no scarcity can break our will," the leader asserted, commending the efforts of doctors and nurses.
The hospital's director, Dr. Otto Rafael Recio Rodríguez, mentioned efforts to restore the Neonatology wards and the Microbiology lab with funding from the Plaza de la Revolución municipality.
He also stated plans to install solar panels to ensure Neonatology and Telemedicine services in the first phase, followed by operating rooms and pre-birth wards.
Growing Concerns Over Maternal Health in Cuba
The presidential visit starkly contrasts with numerous complaints that have surfaced in recent weeks. In Ciego de Ávila, 25.2% of pregnant women suffer from nutritional deficiencies, surpassing the national average of 22.5%. By June 6, 31 pregnant women in the province lacked cribs, and 16 had no mattresses.
Public reports from Camagüey's Maternal Hospital indicate that more than 15 infants died between January and May under deplorable sanitary conditions, including sewage leaks in the neonatal ward.
In Las Tunas, authorities prohibited a Christian church from distributing breakfasts to pregnant women in a maternal home without Communist Party approval for each delivery.
The social crisis in Las Tunas' maternity facilities has also raised alarms, with the adolescent pregnancy rate reaching 21% in the first four months of 2026, including 70 new cases in April alone.
In response, the United Nations launched a $94 million emergency humanitarian appeal for Cuba in May, identifying pregnant women among the most vulnerable groups, with a funding shortfall exceeding $60 million.
Díaz-Canel concluded his visit with a statement intertwining the crisis with the regime's legacy: "These are tough times, but Fidel always told us that in crises, we must find opportunities to grow, develop, and perfect ourselves, and sooner rather than later, we will overcome this situation."
FAQs on Cuba's Maternal and Infant Health Crisis
What are the current infant mortality rates in Cuba?
As of 2025, Cuba's infant mortality rate stands at 9.9 per 1,000 live births, the highest in over two decades.
How has maternal mortality changed in recent years in Cuba?
Maternal mortality rose to 44.1 per 100,000 live births in 2025, an increase from 40.6 the previous year, according to official figures.
What factors are affecting the healthcare system in Cuba?
The Cuban government attributes healthcare challenges to the U.S. embargo, which it claims limits medical supplies and services.