For some, the first impression they have of Cuba is a poor, Communist country in Latin America. Why? Because it's portrayed that way in Western media and normally we don't really hear about it.So you can imagine my surprise when I found out that they have one of the most effective health care systems in the third world and that the UN World Health Organisation (WHO) says that the Cuba health care system is a model for all countries in the world.
How is it possible for a third world country to have better health statistics and hence a better primary health care system by spending only 4% per person annually of what the US does? (Source: links.org)
But before we get into that, let me start with a confession.
After I wrote and published my last post (you can read it here if you haven't already), I didn't expect anyone to read it. Why? Because the content is not what you find people reading for leisure, and the style of writing wasn't that engaging (or so I think). But people have still read it, and it ended up on Tuberculosis Daily for Tuesday 23rd June which has a frequently updated collection of articles about tuberculosis.
 |
| My blog post was included in Tuberculosis Daily in the Health Section! |
And that's enough about me (sorry about the segue-way, might write an update post later) - read on for the much anticipated post on Cuba's health care system...
Cuba's health care system is one that focuses on preventative and primary health care, unlike many western countries that focus on treating diseases. There's a difference there already - the more people who do not catch an illness or develop a disease, the lower the costs of running a health care system as less people end up in hospital requiring treatment and expensive medicine.
Every block has an assigned family doctor who lives in a small, two-storey house in the neighbourhood. The bottom floor is used to receive patients and the top floor becomes the doctor's living quarters. They ensure that every child receives the proper vaccinations and that every pregnant woman has a monthly check-up, blood tests and other tests. Cuba's medical staff put healing above personal wealth - they view it as one of the most fulfilling activities a person can do.
It shows that a lack of resources doesn't necessarily mean a lack of access to healthcare - instead it shows that political leaders don't have the will to protect those that are most vulnerable. This is really obvious with the US healthcare system - we frequently hear stories of people not being treated for something easily curable because they couldn't afford healthcare.
Cuba's system is called the medicina general integral (MGI) or comprehensive general medicine and Cuban doctors are very aware that lives are saved through preventive medicine like nutrition and hygiene and that traditional cultures have their own healing wisdom. But in our Western world, natural and alternative approaches aren't always trusted or the first choice and instead costly diagnostic and treatment techniques are used first.
It doesn't help that people like Belle Gibson falsely claim to have a brain tumour and then promotes healthy eating as a method as a cure, gains the trust of millions and capitalises her story through her app and companion cookbook The Whole Pantry - and many also think that she's driven true cancer sufferers away from using conventional medicine and treatments.
But their healthcare system does come with problems. Doctors are lowly paid and opportunities are limited - many Cuban specialists feel that they are falling behind as they don't have the same opportunities as their overseas peers to travel and attend conferences and to read journals on the latest medical advances (Source: Al Jazeera). This leads to many doctors leaving the country looking for better opportunities abroad - a brain drain.
I'll finish with an update:
It seems like I've been putting off this blog post for a while and it's been quite difficult to write - but I promise you that I've been busy with uni and work and being on holiday. But friends, I'M BACK - and I've got some blog posts lined up so make sure you follow me or my blog somewhere so you don't miss them!
 |
| Havana, Cuba. Photo from Huffington Post. |
Every block has an assigned family doctor who lives in a small, two-storey house in the neighbourhood. The bottom floor is used to receive patients and the top floor becomes the doctor's living quarters. They ensure that every child receives the proper vaccinations and that every pregnant woman has a monthly check-up, blood tests and other tests. Cuba's medical staff put healing above personal wealth - they view it as one of the most fulfilling activities a person can do.
 |
| 5th year student participating in primary care in Havana, Cuba. Photo by Joanna Mae Souers. |
Cuba's system is called the medicina general integral (MGI) or comprehensive general medicine and Cuban doctors are very aware that lives are saved through preventive medicine like nutrition and hygiene and that traditional cultures have their own healing wisdom. But in our Western world, natural and alternative approaches aren't always trusted or the first choice and instead costly diagnostic and treatment techniques are used first.
It doesn't help that people like Belle Gibson falsely claim to have a brain tumour and then promotes healthy eating as a method as a cure, gains the trust of millions and capitalises her story through her app and companion cookbook The Whole Pantry - and many also think that she's driven true cancer sufferers away from using conventional medicine and treatments.
But their healthcare system does come with problems. Doctors are lowly paid and opportunities are limited - many Cuban specialists feel that they are falling behind as they don't have the same opportunities as their overseas peers to travel and attend conferences and to read journals on the latest medical advances (Source: Al Jazeera). This leads to many doctors leaving the country looking for better opportunities abroad - a brain drain.
I'll finish with an update:
It seems like I've been putting off this blog post for a while and it's been quite difficult to write - but I promise you that I've been busy with uni and work and being on holiday. But friends, I'M BACK - and I've got some blog posts lined up so make sure you follow me or my blog somewhere so you don't miss them!
Tuberculosis (TB) is not something you hear of every day. When was the first time you heard of it? For me, it was when I first watched Baz Luhrmann's film Moulin Rouge! a few years ago, although it was called consumption in the film. At the time, I didn't understand why Satine was coughing up blood and why that was such a worry until I read the plot summary afterwards and did some reading on TB. However Moulin Rouge! was set in 1900 - so much has changed, and today in the Western world we rarely ever have to worry about contracting TB it has just about disappeared.
