Eduardo Martínez Díaz, the Cuban Deputy Prime Minister, acknowledged on Friday during the July 3rd Mesa Redonda broadcast that Cuba's health indicators have reached a critical state. Alarming statistics include a doubled infant mortality rate, a waiting list of more than 100,000 individuals for surgeries, and a 20 percentage point drop in the survival rate of children with cancer.
Martínez Díaz revealed that the infant mortality rate, previously between four and five deaths per 1,000 live births, has surged to 9.3, effectively doubling its historical best.
"Our country's social indicators have been deteriorating. For example, infant mortality was once four or five, and now it has doubled due to this situation," Martínez Díaz stated on state television.
Verified data highlights an even more severe decline in the capital: In January and February, Havana recorded 14 deaths per 1,000 live births, the highest rate in over two decades, as per studies on rising infant mortality in Cuba.
Surgical Waitlists and Pediatric Cancer
The deputy prime minister was clear about the surgical backlog: "Currently, there are over 100,000 individuals awaiting surgery, including more than 10,000 children," he stated.
The situation for pediatric oncology is equally dire. Martínez Díaz noted a drop in the survival rate for Cuban children with cancer, falling from 85% to 65% within just a few years.
The shortage of cytostatics—cancer treatment drugs—has forced delays and even interruptions in ongoing treatments, he explained.
The regime has invested over $5 million to restart the production plant for these medications, although it struggles with power and fuel shortages.
Healthcare System in Collapse
By April this year, 461 out of 651 essential medications were unavailable in state pharmacies, representing a deficit of over 70% of the basic drug list, according to reports on the crisis in Cuban hospitals.
More than 300 ambulances are immobilized due to a lack of fuel or spare parts, with just 25 electric units available for the entire island.
The Blame Game: The Embargo
The deputy prime minister attributed the entire decline to the U.S. embargo, labeling it "genocide": "We have production plants halted due to a lack of fuel for boilers. The impact is real. It's truly a genocidal siege. There's no other way to describe it," he asserted.
The regime also referenced a report from the Washington-based Center for Economic and Policy Research (CEPR), which claims that the tightened embargo has resulted in approximately 1,800 children not being born in Cuba.
However, independent analysts argue that internal factors also contribute to the crisis: a massive exodus of doctors, corruption, and decades of underinvestment in healthcare infrastructure, aspects that the official narrative consistently overlooks.
The Cuban healthcare system has been pushed to the brink of collapse, a fact acknowledged in February by the Minister of Public Health, José Ángel Portal Miranda, to the Associated Press.
Martínez Díaz's admissions come just days before Cuba calls on the United Nations General Assembly to debate the embargo, planned for July 7, 2026, amid a leaked diplomatic cable from Secretary of State Marco Rubio instructing U.S. embassies to pressure other nations to avoid the debate.
Understanding Cuba's Health Crisis
What are the current infant mortality rates in Cuba?
The infant mortality rate in Cuba has increased to 9.3 deaths per 1,000 live births, doubling its previous historical low.
How many people are waiting for surgeries in Cuba?
Currently, over 100,000 people are on surgical waiting lists in Cuba, including more than 10,000 children.
What factors are blamed for the healthcare crisis in Cuba?
The Cuban government blames the U.S. embargo for the healthcare crisis, although independent analysts also cite internal issues like doctor migration, corruption, and underinvestment.