Cuban health care workers struggle to aid the sick amid US oil embargo

Young health care providers at Havana’s Cardiology Institute describe a double whammy of frustration in their work and personal lives.

They are worried about what the future holds as the US oil embargo in January led to dramatic fuel shortages in Cuba, as well as rising food prices and nationwide power outages.

These factors have made his life-saving work at the hospital dramatically more difficult.

“This is the hardest time without a doubt since I was born,” Jose Carlos, a 31-year-old cardiology resident, told CBC News. “Because everything is impacting us: energy, resources, transportation.”

Cuba is known internationally for the quality of its health care and has sent groups of medical workers to assist in other countries. Trump is now pressurizing countries to exit these agreements.

Cuban doctors, nurses and lab technicians are facing difficult times across the country. At the institute, there are delays in surgeries, shortage of medicines and not enough pacemakers for those in need.

Outside Havana the story is even worse, as supplies cannot reach these areas without fuel, while blackouts last longer in more rural parts of the country.

“We do everything we can out of love to help people, but the reality right now is that we don’t have enough resources,” Carlos said.

For example, they described long waits for surgery to place a stent.

“The wait could be one to three months,” he said. “It depends on the moment. But we keep patients here until we can do the procedure.”

Julio Cesar Rodriguez Cardona, health director general of Havana’s Cerros municipality, told CBC News the blockade has hit the national health system hard, affecting transportation of patients, supplies and food.

“It also affects power generation. And we maintain vital services… thanks to that power,” he said.

“It’s scary just to think about it. An intensive care unit without monitors, fans (on),” he said.

bus commuting difficulties

The challenges of work are further complicated by the struggles of everyday life in Cuba, including finding one’s way to work when public transportation is disrupted due to fuel shortages.

Doctors like Carlos are paid the equivalent of less than $40 Cdn per month while food prices skyrocket. A dozen eggs now sell for about $10.

“Doctors’ salaries are just for the basics. It doesn’t allow you to buy many things at the supermarket or go to a restaurant or hotel or things like that,” Carlos said.

Despite these challenges, he wants to stay in Cuba because his life is here. Both his parents and his wife, an OBGYN doctor, live here.

“The main reason for everything is America,” he said. “I have no doubt about that.”

Pablo, a 27-year-old cardiology resident who did not want his last name used for fear of repercussions, has considered leaving Cuba.

Speaking to CBC News in front of the hospital, he said his favorite author is Alice Munro and that he thinks about working in Canada. Spain and Italy are some other countries he would like to visit, if possible.

When asked if he would move to the United States, Pablo replied, “I would very much like to work in the United States, even if Trump is president.”

“The situation in the world is very complex,” he said. “The situation troubles me very much. And the situation in this country is very, very difficult. Very difficult and chaotic.”

He said that while the US administration of Donald Trump “makes the situation more difficult,” “the Cuban government is also … a huge problem.”

Cuba was in crisis even before the US oil embargo. The country was flailing in part due to decades of US economic sanctions, crumbling public services, and the fact that many Cubans left the country.

Political repression further aggravated those problems.

“Many patients have serious conditions such as cardiomyocardial infarction, and most of the time, there are not enough medications, staff or care for them,” Pablo said.

There are three levels of hospital care in Cuba: primary care clinics, secondary care hospitals, and then specialized institutions like this one. Conditions are slightly better in these specialized institutions.

Iriana, a 24-year-old lab technician who did not want her last name used, said facilities in other parts of the country are much worse, while resources at her hospital are slightly better.

Meanwhile, Iriana said she has not seen anyone die while waiting for care at the Havana Cardiology Institute.

“Most patients say we are heroes,” he said.

Still, he said doctors and nurses are not paid enough to keep up with the rising costs of food and gas, and some have recently left the profession altogether to find better-paying jobs.

Some of Iriana’s colleagues joined her outside the hospital to talk to CBC News. Rosa, 24, and Raul, 35, are nurses and also did not want their surnames used.

Both of them started thinking about the future.

“We don’t know what will happen, so we will keep working,” Rosa said.

When asked about the situation, Raul answered simply.

“Oops, what a question. I’m just trying to make patients comfortable.”