Cuban doctors have publicly responded to government spokesperson Humberto López following his threats against those who expose irregularities in the country's healthcare system. This comes in the wake of the scandal involving Damir Ortiz, a young boy who, after receiving a misdiagnosis and inadequate treatment in Cuba, was transferred to the United States for specialized care.
The healthcare workers have voiced their dissent, countering the government's narrative and highlighting their dissatisfaction with the state of healthcare on the island. "Why do we need to improvise to solve problems? We are educated, equipped with knowledge, empathy, and a desire to serve, but it is the government's duty to provide the basics. These are human lives, not projects for experimentation, and this constant improvisation keeps us from focusing on our primary role—healing," stated a doctor from a Havana hospital.
A worker at a local clinic added, "What's the point of being good doctors if, when a patient tells them their symptoms, they can't even order basic tests to understand the problem? They're not mind readers; they're physicians who need diagnostic tools to make accurate diagnoses instead of guessing. On top of that, consider the poor conditions doctors face during shifts."
In a tone laced with irony, an OB-GYN resident remarked, "Remember, that child is there due to what we lack and what we have in excess. He is blind because of what we lack and what we have in excess. He will undergo eye removal surgery because of what we lack and what we have in excess. Just a reminder!"
Dr. Miguel Ángel Ruano Sánchez, who actively participated in the campaign for Damir and now faces government defamation and accusations of falsifying his credentials, commented, "Is this what they planned to do to lynch me on national TV? Slander me, hmm, so what happened to that? I am the 'practicing' doctor with a name. I am Dr. Ruano. And where is the evidence of my alleged crimes? 'Criminal' unproven! Lots of talk and no evidence!"
Earlier, during a segment on the national news, Humberto López led a piece titled "Cuba Rejects Defamation Campaign Against Cuban Medicine," issuing a stern warning to those who reveal deficiencies in the island's public health system. López stressed that the Constitution protects individuals and institutions from criticisms on social media and other platforms, suggesting that those who criticize could face legal repercussions.
"Those who play with something as sacred as health should face consequences," López declared defiantly, without specifying the legal framework for such actions. In the news broadcast, he acknowledged the shortcomings of Cuba's public health system but attempted to soften his stance on social media with vague statements. "Lacking everything we lack and having in excess everything we have in excess," he said.
Many interpreted his comment as an attempt to distract from the real scandal: allegations of neglect, medical negligence, and manipulation in Damir's case, who suffered for years in Cuba without an accurate diagnosis. His mother claims that the Ministry of Public Health (MINSAP) violated her and her son's privacy by discussing the matter on television without consent.
"They were letting him die," asserted Eliannis Ramírez, explaining that once in the United States, Damir's health began to improve thanks to proper treatment. During a press conference on Monday in Miami, Eliannis detailed the medical negligence suffered in Cuba, such as poorly performed biopsies, incorrect diagnoses, and a lack of medications she had to obtain herself.
She also denounced that since she began speaking out on social media, the regime disregarded her and launched a campaign to discredit her. MINSAP maintained that medical decisions about Damir were made collectively and blamed the mother for not authorizing certain procedures. However, Ramírez argues that the system failed at every level and that her son's survival is thanks to the opportunity to leave the country.
Cuban Healthcare System and Patient Rights
What triggered the response from Cuban doctors?
The response from Cuban doctors was triggered by government spokesperson Humberto López's threats against those who reveal healthcare system irregularities, particularly following the case of Damir Ortiz, who received a misdiagnosis in Cuba and was later treated in the U.S.
What are some of the grievances expressed by the Cuban healthcare workers?
Healthcare workers expressed grievances about the need to improvise due to lack of resources, the inability to provide proper diagnostics, poor working conditions, and the overall neglect and manipulation by the government.
How did the government respond to the allegations of negligence in Damir Ortiz's case?
The government, through MINSAP, insisted that medical decisions were made in consensus and blamed the mother for not authorizing certain procedures. They also engaged in a campaign to discredit those who spoke out, including Damir's mother and Dr. Miguel Ángel Ruano Sánchez.