Healthcare Emergency in Cuba: Hospitals on the Brink of Total Collapse

The multifaceted crisis that Cuba is going through at the beginning of March 2026 has reached a point of no return in the healthcare sector. The Minister of Public Health himself, José Ángel Portal Miranda, has recognized an “accelerated deterioration” in recent weeks, describing a bleak scenario where a lack of basic supplies and electrical energy is costing lives.

An Infrastructure in Ruins

Cuban hospitals, which were once the flagship of the island’s political system, are now operating under economic warfare conditions. According to recent reports, fuel shortages have paralyzed a large part of the ambulance service, leaving thousands of citizens without a response to critical medical emergencies.

Added to this are the prolonged blackouts which, despite efforts to prioritize hospital centers, affect air conditioning, sterilization, and the operation of vital equipment in operating rooms and intensive care units.

Shortages of Basic Supplies

The daily reality for patients and their families is heartbreaking. It is common for hospitals to request family members to provide their own supplies for elementary surgical procedures:

Surgical gloves and syringes.
Suture threads and tape.
Painkillers and antibiotics.

This deficiency has triggered prices in the informal market, where a box of antibiotics can cost the equivalent of several months’ salary for an average worker.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is causing the collapse of the healthcare system in Cuba?

The collapse is the result of a combination of lack of foreign currency to import medicines, the energy crisis affecting hospital operations, and the critical shortage of fuel for sanitary transport.

What is the situation with surgeries in hospitals?

Many elective surgeries have been indefinitely suspended. Only life-saving emergency interventions are performed, and often, only if family members can guarantee the necessary medical supplies.

How does the crisis affect infant mortality?

A worrying increase in the infant mortality rate has been reported, especially in provinces like Havana, due to the lack of adequate nutrition and specialized medical resources in neonatology.

Is humanitarian aid reaching the island?

Although isolated shipments from countries like Mexico and international organizations have been received, the volume of aid is insufficient to cover the structural deficit of a system that serves 11 million people.

Sources: Diario de Cuba, CiberCuba.