El Sistema Nacional de Salud cubano depende del Ministerio de Salud Pública de Cuba, que es el organismo encargado de dirigir, ejecutar y controlar la aplicación de la política del estado referente a la salud pública. El Ministerio cubre las funciones de atención médica, asistencia a ancianos y discapacitados, control higiénico - epidemiológico, formación de profesionales y la producción y distribución de medicamentos. Todos los cubanos se atienden gratis. Los gastos que asumen los ciudadanos son los medicamentos para pacientes ambulatorios, las prótesis auditivas, estomatológicas ortopédicas y las lentes, sillas de ruedas, muletas y artículos similares, aunque a precios subsidiados por el Estado, y la mayoría de las personas reciben ayudas extras.

Médicos destacados

La medicina occidental moderna ha sido practicada en Cuba por médicos formalmente capacitados desde al menos el comienzo del siglo XIX y la primera clínica quirúrgica se estableció en 1823. Cuba ha tenido muchos médicos de clase mundial, incluido Carlos Juan Finlay, cuyo La teoría de la transmisión de la fiebre amarilla recibió su prueba final bajo la dirección de Walter Reed , James Carroll y Arístides Agramonte Simoni. Durante el período de presencia de los EE. UU. (1898-1902), la fiebre amarilla se eliminó esencialmente gracias a los esfuerzos de Clara Maass y el cirujano Jesse William Lazear.

Salud en Cuba durante la Revolución Cubana

En el contexto de la prohibición de importar equipos médicos de Estados Unidos y de países aliados de Estados Unidos, comenzaron a desarrollarse las relaciones con los países socialistas.

El 12 de julio de 1972, Cuba pasó a formar parte del CAME, tras lo cual se aceleró el desarrollo de la industria médica. En 1973, especialistas soviéticos crearon un jardín botánico en Cuba, donde comenzaron a cultivar 13 especies de plantas medicinales.

En esa época también comenzaron a utilizarse en Cuba nuevos equipos médicos procedentes de Europa del Este (por ejemplo, en 1981, Cuba comenzó a utilizar los más modernos respirador artificial fabricado en Bulgaria).

Con la ayuda de Polonia se construyó una planta para la producción de furfural (esta sustancia se utiliza para fabricar medicamentos).

Situación Actual

Bastantes médicos aplican tanto terapias tradicionales como acupuntura, fitoterapia u otras; por ejemplo, se usa analgesia acupuntural inclusive en cirugías mayores, sobre todo en casos en que la salud del paciente desaconseja anestesia general. De acuerdo con datos del Ministerio de Salud, ese método se usó en más de 24.000 operaciones entre 2001 y 2002.​ El uso de medicinas alternativas es algo polémico ya que hay muchos críticos dentro la profesión médica que sostienen que los tratamientos alternativos suelen ser inferiores a los tratamientos comunes o modernos.

The Cuban National Health System depends on the Ministry of Public Health of Cuba, which is the body in charge of directing, executing and controlling the application of the state's public health policy. The Ministry covers the functions of health care, assistance to the elderly and disabled, hygienic-epidemiological control, training of professionals and the production and distribution of medicines. All Cubans attend for free. Outpatient medications, hearing aids, orthopaedic stomatics, and lenses, wheelchairs, crutches, and similar items are the expenses borne by citizens, albeit at state-subsidized prices, and most people receive extra aids.

Featured Physicians

Modern Western medicine has been practiced in Cuba by formally trained physicians since at least the beginning of the 19th century and the first surgical clinic was established in 1823. Cuba has had many world-class physicians, including Carlos Juan Finlay, whose theory of yellow fever transmission received its final proof under the direction of Walter Reed , James Carroll, and Aristides Agramonte Simoni. During the U.S. presence period, (1898-1902), yellow fever was essentially eliminated thanks to the efforts of Clara Maass and surgeon Jesse William Lazear.

Health in Cuba during the Cuban Revolution

In the context of the ban on importing medical equipment from the United States and countries allied with the United States, relations with socialist countries began to develop.

On July 12, 1972, Cuba became part of the CMEA, after which the development of the medical industry accelerated. In 1973, Soviet specialists created a botanical garden in Cuba, where they began to cultivate 13 species of medicinal plants.

At that time, new medical equipment from Eastern Europe also began to be used in Cuba (for example, in 1981, Cuba began to use the most modern artificial respirator manufactured in Bulgaria).

With the help of Poland, a plant was built for the production of furfural (this substance is used to manufacture medicines).

Current Situation

Many doctors apply both traditional therapies such as acupuncture, herbal medicine or others; for example, acupuncture analgesia is used even in major surgeries, especially in cases where the patient's health discourages general anesthesia. According to data from the Ministry of Health, this method was used in more than 24,000 operations between 2001 and 2002. The use of alternative medicines is somewhat controversial as there are many critics within the medical profession who argue that alternative treatments are often inferior to common or modern treatments.

The Cuban National Health System depends on the Ministry of Public Health of Cuba, which is the body responsible for directing, executing and controlling the application of the State policy regarding public health. The Ministry covers the functions of medical care, assistance to the elderly and disabled, hygienic - epidemiological control, training of professionals and the production and distribution of medicines. All Cubans are treated for free. The expenses borne by citizens are outpatient medicines, hearing aids, orthopedic dental prostheses and glasses, wheelchairs, crutches and similar items, although at prices subsidized by the State, and most people receive extra help.

Featured doctors

Moderna occidental medicine has been practiced in Cuba by formally trained doctors since at least the beginning of the nineteenth century and the first surgical clinic was established in 1823. Cuba has had many world-class doctors, including Carlos Juan Finlay, whose theory of yellow fever transmission received its final test under the direction of Walter Reed, James Carroll and Aristides Agramonte Simoni. During the period of the U.S. presence. USA. (1898-1902), yellow fever was essentially eliminated thanks to the efforts of Clara Maass and surgeon Jesse William Lazear.

Health in Cuba during the Cuban Revolution

Against the background of the ban on importing medical equipment from the United States and from countries allied with the United States, relations with socialist countries began to develop.

On July 12, 1972, Cuba became part of the CAME, after which the development of the medical industry accelerated. In 1973, Soviet specialists created a botanical garden in Cuba, where they began to cultivate 13 species of medicinal plants.

At that time, new medical equipment from Eastern Europe also began to be used in Cuba (for example, in 1981, Cuba began using the most Moderna artificial respirator manufactured in Bulgaria).

With the help of Poland, a plant was built for the production of furfural (this substance is used to manufacture medicines).

Current Situation

Quite a few doctors apply both traditional therapies and acupuncture, herbal medicine or others; for example, acupuncture analgesia is used even in major surgeries, especially in cases where the patient's health advises against general anesthesia. According to data from the Ministry of Health, this method was used in more than 24,000 operations between 2001 and 2002.​ The use of alternative medicines is somewhat controversial since there are many critics within the medical profession who maintain that alternative treatments are usually inferior to common or Moderna treatments.