The entire Cuban health system is based on the model called "The family doctor and nurse", developed in 1984. This model, whose basic unit is the family nucleus, with a clinical, epidemiological and social approach to health problems.
The 436 community polyclinics and the 15,000 clinics scattered throughout the national territory constitute the backbone of the health system in Cuba. Each polyclinic serves a population of 30,000 to 60,000 people and collaborates closely with 20 to 40 clinics. A polyclinic offers an average of twenty different services: rehabilitation, radiology, ultrasound, endoscopy, emergency services, traumatology, clinical laboratory, family planning, thrombolysis, medical-dental emergencies, maternal and child care, immunization and care for people with diabetes, geriatrics, dermatology, psychiatry, cardiology, family medicine and internal medicine, pediatrics, obstetrics and gynecology.
Within these entities, health professionals are responsible for the primary medical care of the population and deal more specifically with the most vulnerable categories of people, that is, children, the elderly and pregnant women. Emphasis is placed on preventive medicine, hygiene, nutrition, sports practice and the fight against risk factors. Prevention is the "cornerstone" of the Cuban health system.
Cuba has almost 50,000 medical professors, more than 100,000 doctors and around 100,000 nurses. With an average of 9 doctors and 9 nurses per 1,000 inhabitants, Cuba is today one of the best equipped nations in the world in this sector.
By way of comparison, according to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), France has 3.4 doctors per 1,000 inhabitants and Austria, the best-endowed country, has 5.2 doctors per 1,000 inhabitants. As for the United States, the figure drops to 2.6 doctors per 1,000 inhabitants.
Kind Regards
Competing interests:
No competing interests
06 March 2022
Maniel Lopez Trejo
Doctor
Dr Yamila Guevara Amarales, Dr Omar Perez Vilaboy, Dr Oralys Reyes Turiño, MSc Abel Perez Cardenas, Lic. Anaiza Zerquera Quezada, MSc Ihosvany Castellanos Santos, Dr Lizet Guerra Gonzalez(vicedean), Dr Idania Perez Lugo(dean), Dr Maria Gloria Ruiz Gonzalez, Lic Masleny Escobar Rodriguez, Lic Yarelys Lorenzo Perez, Lic Yamer Cintra Rodriguez, Lic Lourdes Betancourt Gainza, Lic Marisely Luarey Benitez, MSc Juan Carlos Nodalse Alvarez, MSc Mirya Valdivia Hernandez.
Rapid Response:
The Cuban Health Care System.
Dear Editor
The entire Cuban health system is based on the model called "The family doctor and nurse", developed in 1984. This model, whose basic unit is the family nucleus, with a clinical, epidemiological and social approach to health problems.
The 436 community polyclinics and the 15,000 clinics scattered throughout the national territory constitute the backbone of the health system in Cuba. Each polyclinic serves a population of 30,000 to 60,000 people and collaborates closely with 20 to 40 clinics. A polyclinic offers an average of twenty different services: rehabilitation, radiology, ultrasound, endoscopy, emergency services, traumatology, clinical laboratory, family planning, thrombolysis, medical-dental emergencies, maternal and child care, immunization and care for people with diabetes, geriatrics, dermatology, psychiatry, cardiology, family medicine and internal medicine, pediatrics, obstetrics and gynecology.
Within these entities, health professionals are responsible for the primary medical care of the population and deal more specifically with the most vulnerable categories of people, that is, children, the elderly and pregnant women. Emphasis is placed on preventive medicine, hygiene, nutrition, sports practice and the fight against risk factors. Prevention is the "cornerstone" of the Cuban health system.
Cuba has almost 50,000 medical professors, more than 100,000 doctors and around 100,000 nurses. With an average of 9 doctors and 9 nurses per 1,000 inhabitants, Cuba is today one of the best equipped nations in the world in this sector.
By way of comparison, according to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), France has 3.4 doctors per 1,000 inhabitants and Austria, the best-endowed country, has 5.2 doctors per 1,000 inhabitants. As for the United States, the figure drops to 2.6 doctors per 1,000 inhabitants.
Kind Regards
Competing interests: No competing interests