People often underestimate Cuba in many ways, mistakenly believing that this country is stuck in the past and is some kind of Soviet Union. However, this is not the case. Yes, there is a low standard of living here and there are no modern skyscrapers and megacities, but Cuba can still boast of something. For example, a well-developed he althcare system, which is recognized as one of the best in the world. It not only meets modern standards, but is also a quality standard for many other countries. Let's look at the main myths and reality about medicine in Cuba to dispel the general stereotypes.
General information
The state gained independence about 80 years ago. After the end of the war and the revolution, the government gained control over all sectors and spheres of the country's life. Medicine in Cuba is also under the jurisdiction of the state. The high level of its development is evidenced by the average life expectancy: according to the latest statisticaldata, it is equal to 76 years. This figure is one of the highest in the world. Today, there are more than 1300 hospitals and polyclinics in the country, supervised by the Ministry of He alth.
Why is medicine good in Cuba? This is due to the full support of the government. Huge sums of money are allocated annually for its development. At the same time, much attention is paid not only to treatment, but also to the prevention of various diseases, as well as the development of new drugs. According to official information, there are eight doctors for every 1,000 people, and a personal doctor is assigned to each family.
Diagnostic programs
What are they and what is their speci alty? Medicine in Cuba is developing in compliance with all the standards of the World He alth Organization, so patients are provided with qualified assistance. There are also various diagnostic programs in the country, the main task of which is:
- prevention of various pathologies;
- detection of diseases at the initial stages of development;
- assessment of the general he alth of citizens;
- identifying risk factors that increase the rate of chronic disease development.
There are diagnostic programs of both general and narrowly focused significance, for example, cardiological, oncological, etc. That is why it is considered that Cuba has the best medicine in the world. If any he alth problems are identified, patients are immediately referred toto a qualified specialist, thanks to which diseases are detected at an early stage and they can be defeated quickly and without consequences.
He alth insurance
What do you need to know about this? All citizens are served in hospitals for free, but tourists will have to pay for any services. Therefore, deciding to spend a vacation in this country, you should think about buying he alth insurance. It provides the opportunity for free:
- call an ambulance;
- get inpatient or outpatient treatment;
- make an appointment with the dentist;
- receive cash compensation for the purchase of medicines.
A citizen of almost any country can apply for a policy, so there should be no problems.
Types of he alth insurance
Let's take a closer look at this. Tourists who are planning to spend a vacation on Liberty Island or go there for treatment face the question of which insurance program to choose. The Cuban government strives to take into account the interests of representatives of various categories of people, therefore, it has developed several types of medical policies, from which you can choose the most suitable for yourself. To date, there are such insurance programs:
- basic;
- full outpatient;
- complete with one day hospitalization;
- prophylactic for the elderly;
- gynecological;
- for people suffering fromhypertension;
- children.
Each type of he alth insurance has a different cost and covers certain cases. In order to choose the most suitable program for you, it is recommended that you first study their conditions, as well as take into account your own he alth problems.
Required documents for hospital care
As mentioned earlier, medicine in Cuba is very well developed and is under the full control of the state, so corruption schemes are excluded. However, in order to undergo a course of treatment, the patient will have to prepare a package of certain documents. Includes:
- an invitation from a medical institution;
- any document confirming solvency;
- case history.
To receive an invitation, you must first contact the clinic with your medical card and the results of all laboratory tests that were carried out. It is very important that all documents are translated into Spanish.
Treatment of children
This aspect should be given special attention. On Liberty Island, all patients, regardless of age, are treated well and provided with all the necessary services. But medicine in Cuba for children is especially well developed. Kids from all over the world can get free treatment in this country. Doctors have made great strides in the following industries:
- endocrinology;
- otorhinolaryngology;
- cardiology;
- ophthalmology;
- gastroenterology.
The level of medicine in Cuba in the field of psychiatry is also high. To combat many pathologies associated with impaired functioning of the central and peripheral nervous systems, doctors practice animal therapy. Throughout the country, there are many free rehabilitation centers where anyone can receive treatment.
Visa for Medical Assistance
So what do you need to know about this? The government pays great attention to the development of medicine in Cuba for tourists. Residents of the countries that are part of the CIS can get to the Island of Freedom without a visa, using their foreign passport. Time of free stay - 30 days. However, if you are planning a trip for the purpose of undergoing therapy for serious diseases, then a permit is required. To get it, you need:
- passport;
- migration card;
- document confirming solvency.
If you apply for a visa through the Cuban embassy located in your country, then you do not need to provide a migration card. The average waiting time is 14 days, so try to plan ahead.
Cost of treatment
This aspect should be read first. Medicine in Cuba for foreigners is paid, so many people are interested in the question of how much it will cost them to complete a full course of treatment in the presence of any disease. It's hard to give exact prices.because they depend on many factors and vary over a very wide range. Approximate numbers look like this:
- oncology - from 241 to 603 thousand dollars;
- brain surgery - from 151 to 755 thousand dollars;
- kidney transplant - 383 thousand dollars;
- neuro-restorative therapy - 224 thousand dollars;
- tooth filling - $25;
- plastic surgery - an average of 11 thousand dollars;
- liposuction - $600.
The cost does not include transportation costs, insurance policy, accommodation and meals. Therefore, you must carefully plan your expenses. On average, one adult in Cuba will spend $50 per day in a mid-range hotel.
Healing resorts
Many people have long been interested in the question of where in the world medicine is in Cuba. And this is not surprising, because every year more than 20,000 people from all over the world come to this country for treatment in local hospitals and clinics. But even more tourists come for the purpose of he alth tourism. And this is also not surprising, because a unique ecosystem has been created on the Island of Freedom, as well as a huge number of various sanatoriums and dispensaries have been opened. Among the most famous are the following:
- Havana is a wide-profile center specializing in the treatment of various diseases of the cardiovascular, digestive and endocrine systems. All polyclinics located on the territory of the resort are equipped with the mostmodern equipment and qualified personnel.
- Varadero - the main specialization is dermatology and orthopedics. There is also everything you need to treat various pathologies of the nervous system and respiratory tract.
- Santiago de Cuba - known worldwide for its mineral springs, the waters of which promote healing in the presence of allergies, skin diseases and rheumatism.
It is worth noting that, of course, medicine in Cuba is one of the best, but people from all over the world come to Liberty Island not only for this reason. It has very cheap accommodation and food, as well as a friendly population, which makes the holiday in this country simply unforgettable.
The most common myths
As mentioned earlier, there is a lot of speculation about the he althcare system on Liberty Island. Some consider it one of the best, while others declare a low level of development. But how are things really? Is there anything in common between reality and myths about medicine in Cuba? The following facts will help answer this question:
- Education and he alth care for all Cubans are free.
- Cuba has very qualified surgeons who perform operations of any complexity. The treatment of oncological diseases here is one of the most effective in the world.
- When living in the country for a long time, foreign citizens are en titled to free he althcare.
- In hospitals and clinics for tourists createdsignificantly better conditions and better service.
- The high level of development of medicine is due to the fact that the he althcare system is built on a model developed in the USSR.
- People on the island live long lives and rarely get sick, as much attention is paid to the diagnosis of diseases.
Thus, the general opinion that Cuba has one of the best he althcare systems is not a myth, but a reality. To see this for yourself, you need to visit this incredibly colorful and beautiful country at least once.
Patient testimonials
What do people who have been treated here or visited he alth resorts think about medicine in Cuba? The vast majority of tourists were completely delighted. Doctors are very attentive to their patients, and hospitals are equipped with all modern equipment. The cost of treatment also leaves a good impression. By modern standards, medicine here is really very cheap.
The best evidence of this is the huge influx of Americans who come to the country to receive therapy for a variety of he alth problems. Therefore, if you have been suffering from any disease for a long time, you should definitely come to Liberty Island to fight it. You can not only get rid of it completely, but also have a great rest on the snow-white Cuban beaches.
Conclusion
So, we figured out in detail what the he althcare system in Cuba is like today. As you can see, allexisting opinions about the low development of this country are nothing more than speculation. In any case, Cuban medicine is not inferior to many Western countries in terms of development. And this is far from the limit, as the government continues to fund research activities and the development of new drugs every year, and is also working to re-equip hospitals and clinics. Therefore, perhaps in the future the whole world will go to Cuba for treatment.
