The ongoing healthcare crisis in Cuba is revealing the fragile nature of a system strained by both internal challenges and external pressures. With increasing mortality rates and restricted access to essential medical services, the situation underscores the critical importance of preventive care in safeguarding public health. As Cuba grapples with ramifications from sanctions, the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact, and energy shortages, the resilience of its healthcare workers and the dire need for reform have never been more evident.
A spike in mortality is alarming the Cuban healthcare system, as tightening restrictions compel the government to ration medical care more strictly. In February, Havana unveiled a set of emergency energy-saving initiatives that included the suspension of all non-essential medical services across the island, a move that has raised concerns among health professionals who deem many suspended treatments crucial for patient well-being.
Dr. Alioth Fernandez, a pediatric anesthesiologist, pointed out that preventive healthcare is critical in early detection and treatment of conditions such as appendicitis. Under normal circumstances, such preventive measures would catch potentially fatal diseases before they escalate. However, Fernandez noted that patients are now presenting with “worsened” conditions, leading to a surge in complicated cases that significantly strain hospital resources. “All the appendicitis cases we treat now present complications,” he said, highlighting the additional demands on antibiotics and other supplies—resources that are alarmingly scarce.
Recent statistics from the Cuban Ministry of Public Health indicate a troubling trend, with childhood cancer survival rates plummeting from 85 percent to 65 percent amid ongoing oil blockades targeting the island. Infant mortality, which stood at 4 per 1,000 live births in 2017, dramatically climbed to 9.9 by 2025, while maternal mortality rates also increased to 44.1 deaths per 100,000 live births—the highest in years.
Lilian Delgado, an obstetrician and gynecologist at Havana’s main maternity hospital, highlights the direct consequences of the escalating humanitarian crisis, marked by rising premature births and severe health issues among pregnant women. She stated, “Conditions are far from ideal at all levels of the system,” emphasizing that shortages plague the healthcare landscape.
Even as the government prioritizes emergency services, many necessary medical procedures remain classified as “elective,” a categorization that belies their potential urgency. Surgeries such as mastectomies and organ transplants are often postponed, threatening the lives of countless patients. Currently, more than 100,000 Cubans are waiting for elective or reconstructive surgeries, with the Ministry of Public Health attributing this backlog to U.S. sanctions.
Among those on the waiting list are over 5,000 cancer patients and about 12,000 children, some of whom have been awaiting surgery for months. Delgado elaborated on the cascading effects of the situation, explaining that a lack of supplies has led to more women suffering serious complications, while operating rooms remain occupied with emergency cases, making it increasingly difficult to perform timely elective surgeries.
Hospitals in Cuba are equipped with backup generators to deal with frequent power outages; however, access to emergency care is hampered by fuel shortages affecting essential transportation services. Delgado poignantly remarked, “If you have a cancer patient and cannot operate due to a nationwide blackout,” the consequences become dire, as these factors may inadvertently lead to increased mortality rates. Furthermore, she emphasized the embargo’s catastrophic toll, stating it has cost “human lives, both directly and indirectly,” reinforcing the urgent need for reform in Cuba’s healthcare infrastructure.
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