by SALIM LAMRANI
Several European countries have already called on the island’s health professionals, who have a long history of medical cooperation throughout the world.
France is faced with the reality of medical deserts, and finds itself unable to offer all its citizens sufficient medical coverage. A report by the French Senate highlights the inadequacy of public policies to combat territorial inequalities in access to healthcare: “The health divide continues to widen between regions”. Medical deserts are not confined to rural areas. They are a reality in medium-sized towns and suburban areas, and one commune in three is affected by this scourge. Between 9 and 12% of the French population now lives in a medical desert, i.e. between 6 and 8 million people.
Cuba could provide a solution to this problem. Since the advent of the Revolution in 1959, the island has made healthcare a national priority, building a public, universal and free system that places the patient at the center of the medical project. Recognized by international institutions as the pre-eminent model for developing countries, the Cuban healthcare system is also seen as a potential source of inspiration for wealthier nations, not least thanks to its preventive model. In addition to caring for its own citizens, Cuba has been offering its medical expertise around the world for over half a century, treating people on every continent and making this service its primary source of income.
In 1963, Havana sent its first medical brigade of 55 professionals to Algeria to help the young independent nation cope with a serious health crisis. Since then, Cuba has extended its solidarity to the rest of the world, particularly Latin America, Africa and Asia. The island has carried out over 600,000 missions in nearly 160 countries around the world, involving more than 325,000 health professionals. They have carried out nearly 2 billion medical consultations, 15 million surgical operations and 5 million deliveries. Today, international medical cooperation is Cuba’s leading source of revenue, with over seven billion dollars a year.
Following the Covid-19 pandemic, several European countries, including Andorra and Italy, requested Cuba’s medical assistance. For the first time, Cuban doctors intervened on the Old Continent. Havana sent a brigade of 52 doctors and nurses to Lombardy, hard hit by the virus. After two months of hard work, the members of the Henry Reeve contingent returned to Cuba.
Greatly impressed by the work of the Cuban professionals, other Italian regions have asked for their help in addressing the shortcomings of the country’s healthcare system. Since 2023, the Calabria region has benefited from the presence of Cuban doctors. A first brigade of 51 arrived in January 2023, followed by another group of 120 doctors in August 2023 and another 98 in February 2024. In all, 500 Cuban doctors will eventually be working in this region of southern Italy. La Repubblica, the country’s leading daily newspaper, expressed its enthusiasm with the headline: “These are the Cuban doctors who will save Calabria’s healthcare system”. The region’s governor, Roberto Occhuito, expressed his gratitude: “The people of Calabria are extremely grateful to you, because you have enabled us to guarantee essential services for the care of our citizens, preventing the closure of services and hospitals. You have saved the hospitals”.
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