HEALTHCARE IN CUBA B.C.

                                              The Topes de Collantes Tuberculosis Hospital

Here is a report from Gente magazine dated January 5 of 1958, exactly one year before Castro came to power:

"If the opinions of eminent Cubans who have inspected the huge Topes de Collantes Hospital were not sufficient,

the comments of outstanding world scientists who have had the opportunity of viewing the renowned hospital

construction could also be extensively quoted.
The hospital is, without doubt, a source of pride for the whole hemisphere. It was constructed with the most

modern methods and equipped with the best facilities available to treat respiratory diseases. In addition to its

unexcelled construction and equipment, the hospital is also endowed with highly unusual and extremely

beneficial natural location which in itself of considerable aid to its numerous patients.
In effect Topes de Collantes is a dream which has become a reality. It is a medical center which is helping

Cubans fight tuberculosis with all the care and aid that modern science and nature can provide."
 

Before Castro, all Cubans had access to this hospital, whether they were rich or poor, black or white. If you

were poor, you were treated for free. Today, it is a facility for the exclusive use of foreigners.

Havana's National Hospital

The building behind is the

National School for Nurses

The tall building to the left is the

Hospital Clinico Quirurgico Mercedes del

Puerto in Havana.

The emergency room at the

Hospital Clinico Quirurgico

The sterilizer room at the same hospital

The modern laundry facilities at the same

hospital. Today, patients at this hospital

have to bring their own bed sheets and pillows,

wash their own clothes and  later hang them

outside their room windows for them to get dry

because the laundry facilities are destroyed like

almost everything else in Cuba

The way the lab room at the Hospital

Clinico Quirurgico looked 50 years ago.

Here is what was published in Gente magazine in January of 1958:

"The Mercedes del Puerto Clinical-Surgical Hospital is strictly clinical although it also house convalescent

surgical patients. Included in the modern equipment, purchases at a cost of $1 million will be the only

artificial kidney in Cuba. The magnificent structure will consist of 60 comfortable rooms, fully equipped

with air conditioning, indirect music and modern furnishings, and 200 beds for the patients.

All of the examination and consultation rooms laboratories, X-ray rooms, administrative office, the

cafeteria and other departments are fully air conditioned.  In addition all the walls are lined with plastic

which contribute to the general hygiene and appearance of the interior.
The main floor is of marble and the rest of the building of granite.  There are 14 wards, among them

wards for cardiology, gastroenterology, endocrinology and nutrition, diabetes, internal medicine and

psychosomatic ailments.  The hospital also has a special ward for persons suffering from burns; this ward is

air conditioned and is the second of its kind in the world.  Six solariums are also available for use by

ambulatory patients. The assembly half with 200 seats is an example of truly modern architecture and is

also air conditioned.  It has a projection room and fine acoustics which will provide both entertainment

and relaxation for the patients.
The city's poorer and needier persons will receive quick treatment and medication at the new hospital

plant, as they do in other city-sponsored hospitals such as the Freyre de Andrade Emergency Hospital,

the City Maternity Hospital and the Children's Hospital.  A special department of social workers will help

determine each patient's financial status, and those lacking sufficient funds for hospital care will be

treated free of charge."

Hospital Civil of Santiago de Cuba. Patients who were poor were treated for free

Hospital Civil of Camagüey. Patients who were poor were treated for free

Hospital Civil of Cienfuegos.

Poor patients received free treatment

The O.N.D.I.

The National Organization of Children's Dispensaries (ONDI) was created by Law No. 279 of July 30, 1952.  T

his law specified that each bottle of beer manufactured in Cuba or imported, was subject to a one cent tax. 

Through this special tax, the ONDI collected nearly $3,500.000 yearly that was used as working capital.

In 1958, the ONDI was operating four Hospitals located at Guane, Havana, Santa Clara and Santiago de Cuba,

respectively. Twenty-six Dispensaries, opened 24 hours a day, were located throughout the Island, in rural districts.

                    The ONDI's Central Hospital

The ONDI hospital at Cienfuegos, being constructed in 1958

The ONDI dispensary at Arroyo Arenas

A baby receiving treatment at an ONDI facility    A Cuban child receiving free dental care.

                                                                      Where is the racism that Castro's apologist

                                                                      are always talking about?

The latest equipment was available     The lab at one of the ONDI facilities

for all dental patients

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