An investigative piece by the independent Cuban organization Casa Palanca, which exposes corruption and covert privatization within Cuba's healthcare system, has been named one of the 12 finalists for the 2026 Roche Health Journalism Award. The announcement was made last Monday by Roche Latin America and the Gabo Foundation.
The report, titled "The Silent Privatization: Corruption Practices in the Cuban National Health System," is competing in the written journalism category. It was authored by journalists Luzbely (Luz) Escobar, Mel Herrera, Laura Vargas, and Náyare Menoyo.
From an initial pool of 699 entries from Latin America, Spain, and Portugal, 73 pieces were preselected, and from these, 12 finalists were chosen. This marks the fourteenth edition of the competition and the first time all four categories—written, audiovisual, digital, and sound—were called simultaneously.
Exposing a Failing Health System
The official award page describes the investigation as starting from a devastating premise: "While the Cuban state promotes its National Health System as a bastion of free and excellent service, the reality faced by citizens in hospitals and pharmacies is one of a collapsing system [...] the constitutional right to health has effectively turned into a market of privileges where life has an informal price tag."
The investigation relied on a survey conducted with over 2,100 individuals across Cuba in early 2025, in partnership with Cubadata. The findings are striking: as reported by the independent outlet elToque, 74.3% of Cubans who sought medical care in 2024 had to pay for services or medications that are officially free.
Other data from the study are equally startling: 78% of respondents used personal contacts to access care, 52.2% gave up seeking help due to the inability to meet informal costs, and 82.4% believed corruption in healthcare is "very widespread" or "widespread" in the country.
Systemic Corruption and Decline
The investigation underscores that "corruption in healthcare access is no longer an exception but a structural practice within the system. What once appeared to be isolated incidents now operates as an unwritten rule that conditions medical care on the Island."
This decline is backed by official figures. In July 2025, the Minister of Public Health, José Ángel Portal Miranda, admitted to the National Assembly that only 30% of the essential medicines were available. By July 2026, more than 100,000 people were on surgical waiting lists, including 12,000 children. Cuba's medical workforce dropped from 106,131 doctors in 2021 to 75,364 in 2024, a 29% decrease in just three years. The situation has only worsened in recent months.
Of the 12 finalist entries this year, seven were created by teams composed entirely of women, and 62% of all submissions were from female authors. Casa Palanca's investigation follows this trend, with all four contributors being women.
The winners of the 14th Roche Health Journalism Award will be announced on October 7 during a ceremony at the Roche Press Day 2026, in San José, Costa Rica.
Insights into Cuba's Healthcare Crisis
What is the focus of Casa Palanca's investigation?
Casa Palanca's investigation focuses on uncovering corruption and the hidden privatization of Cuba's healthcare system, challenging the state's narrative of free and excellent healthcare.
How significant is the healthcare crisis in Cuba according to the report?
The report reveals a severe healthcare crisis in Cuba, with 74.3% of citizens paying for supposedly free services and a widespread belief that corruption is pervasive.
What has been the impact on Cuba's medical workforce?
Cuba's medical workforce has significantly declined, with the number of doctors dropping by 29% from 2021 to 2024, contributing to the deteriorating healthcare situation.