Socialized Medicine Cuban Style Research by Isaac Holeman

Research by Isaac Holeman

questions: what is socialized medicine like in cuba? what do doctors like about cuba’s health care system? what do doctors dislike about cuba’s health care system? do cuban doctors feel repressed by socialized medicine?

what is socialized medicine like in cuba?

what do doctors like about cuba’s health care system?

what do doctors dislike about cuba’s health care system?

do cuban doctors feel repressed by socialized medicine?

participant observation

lets us experience health care

more than we wanted to

but we laugh it off

and tough it out

f and get reconstructive surgery

but Che, where do cubans go? * although not the real Che, this man was featured in lonely planet *

this is definitely cuba

but do cubans go

where the SICKo patients went?

no, it’s too swanky

this looks more like everyday cuba * * prevention is a hallmark of the cuban health care system

the disease warriors will take on the mosquitos

¡battle formation! * young men doing mandatory military service often aid public health campaigns *

but if we can’t hide from the mosquitos

but if we can’t hide from the mosquitos where can we find a cuban doctor?

cuba has many health care providers * * 1:165 doctor:patient ratio, versus 1:337 in the US

¡finally, a policlinico!

where is the neighborhood doc?

we made it to the waiting room

community medicine = consultorios are welcoming places

that have flood damage

and very little equipment

and diligent doctors

¡quitar el bloqueo! * * unwarranted propaganda is a mainstay of cuban health care

conclusions: consultorios are not as well equipped as flagship hospitals doctors are proud of cuban medicine’s humanitarian achievements doctors are paid very little doctors are the champions, not the slaves of socialized medicine

consultorios are not as well equipped as flagship hospitals

doctors are proud of cuban medicine’s humanitarian achievements

doctors are paid very little

doctors are the champions, not the slaves of socialized medicine

big thanks to evan bruce and julie all my cuban friends all my other friends

key informants* Doctora Jillian Garcia Especialista Medicina General Integral, La Habana Cuba. Doctora Gladys P ér e z Especialista Medicina General Integral, La Habana Cuba. Doctora Maile de Le ón Profesora del Escuela Latino America de Medicina. Especialista Medicina General Integral y Epidimiologia, La Habana Cuba. Doctora Damaris Vasquez Especialista Medicina General Integral y Epidimiologia, La Habana Cuba. * I changed the names of all informants. I left all positions unchanged.

Doctora Jillian Garcia Especialista Medicina General Integral, La Habana Cuba.

Doctora Gladys P ér e z Especialista Medicina General Integral, La Habana Cuba.

Doctora Maile de Le ón Profesora del Escuela Latino America de Medicina. Especialista Medicina General Integral y Epidimiologia, La Habana Cuba.

Doctora Damaris Vasquez Especialista Medicina General Integral y Epidimiologia, La Habana Cuba.

interesting sources Cuban Constitution. Retrieved November 2, 2007, from WHO International Digest of Health Legislation, http://www.who.int/en/ Boadle, Anthony. (2007, July 19). SiCKo Patients got VIP Treatment in Cuba. Reuters. Feinsilver, J. M. (1989). Cuba as a "world medical power": The politics of symbolism. Latin American Research Review, 24(2), 1-34.

Cuban Constitution. Retrieved November 2, 2007, from WHO International Digest of Health Legislation, http://www.who.int/en/

Boadle, Anthony. (2007, July 19). SiCKo Patients got VIP Treatment in Cuba. Reuters.

Feinsilver, J. M. (1989). Cuba as a "world medical power": The politics of symbolism. Latin American Research Review, 24(2), 1-34.

thank you.