Why Cuba's national health is number one among third world countries

People's Daily has conducted a survey of more than 70 countries overseas and concluded that today's Cuba is the only country in the world that truly provides free medical care for all. At the same time, given Cuba's significant achievements in healthcare, it has been highly praised by the World Health Organization and relevant experts over the years. According to data published by the World Health Organization in 2013, the life expectancy of Cubans (76 for men and 80 for women), the infant mortality rate for infants under 5 years of age (6 per thousand) and other basic medical indicators are currently at the level of the world's most developed countries, even exceeding that of the United States, the world's number one powerhouse, and with per capita public **** health expenditures of less than one-twentieth of those of the United States. Since the 1990s, the Cuban economy has continued to experience difficulties, but the policy of free health care has remained unchanged, and after the Sixth National Congress of Cuba in 2011, Cuba promoted the "renewal of the economic model" and expanded the proportion of the individual economy in the national economy. Nevertheless, Cuba remains a firm advocate for the continuation of the universal free health-care system. In addition, Cuba has utilized its abundant medical and healthcare resources to carry out "medical diplomacy," which has helped the country to recover its scarce oil and foreign exchange earnings.

The Formation and Development of the Cuban Health Care System

Before the Cuban Revolution in 1959, Cuba's health care was not backward, but the use of health care resources was extremely uneven. Havana alone, with 22% of the country's population, concentrated 60% of the country's hospitals and 80% of its beds, while there was only one hospital in the country's rural areas, and the general public could not afford to see a doctor. In the years following the triumph of the Cuban Revolution, half of the country's doctors and a large number of medical personnel were lost, and in 1962, after the United States had imposed a total embargo on Cuba, the United States cut off all supplies of medicines and medical equipment to the country. Cuba increased the training of medical personnel through the expansion of medical schools and other measures, and established a health-care system under the unified leadership of the Ministry of Health for the rural and grass-roots areas. By 1974, after 15 years of hard work, Cuba had emerged from a difficult situation in the field of health care. The number of doctors had risen to more than 10,000 (compared to 6,000 before the revolution), and three important infectious diseases, polio, malaria and diphtheria, had been eradicated. Life expectancy rose from 55 years before the revolution to 70 years, and infant mortality fell from 60 to 28.9 per thousand. Of course, the key to these achievements was the increase in state investment. between 1958 and 1968, Cuba's public **** health budget expenditures increased tenfold. To this day, Cuba's health care is still truly and completely free. If hospitalization is required, not only are there no fees for treatment, surgery, or medication, but even beds and meals are provided free of charge. The hospital also prepares special meals according to the patient's special condition, and the family has a resting place to stay with the patient.

Even in difficult economic times, the Cuban government has insisted on providing political and financial support for medicine and biotechnology. in 2011, the public ****health budget accounted for 10.0% of GDP. ④ In biotechnology alone, the Cuban government has invested about $1 billion in biotechnology research and development over the past 20 years. Currently, the Cuban biotechnology industry holds some 1,200 international patents and sells pharmaceutical products and vaccines in more than 50 countries around the world. Exports have increased significantly, generating hundreds of millions of dollars in foreign exchange earnings each year. Currently, Cuba is conducting more than 60 clinical trials on more than 90 new products. And these numbers are expected to increase. The focus on health biotechnology has had the enormous benefit of producing more affordable medicines to treat diseases that are rampant in low- and middle-income countries.