UN Declares Castro a Hero

Joey the lips

Deleted User wrote: »

Yes.

I'd say if we slash living standards and lived like Cubans on what they get paid, the Government would be able to afford a private hospital for every single person on this island (even allowing for the 90% waste on administration) and throw in a free hoverboard too.

Another one with a poor knowledge of the cuban health system i see. Have you any proof to back this up or is it based on CNN?

Salvelinus

Joey the lips wrote: »

Another one with a poor knowledge of the cuban health system i see. Have you any proof to back this up or is it based on CNN?

Their number 1, their number 1 *
http://www.who.int/healthinfo/paper30.pdf


*Actually 39

Dr Galen

without wanting to turn this into a debate on the merits or otherwise of the Cuban health system, I don't think you can turn a blind eye to what has gone on in Cuba outside of this one area.

Sure they've got a good healthcare system in place, but, even that has come at some cost to the population at large. I'd wonder if the general populus would accept a less good health system as a trade off for maybe a bit of freedom of speech, less government interference in everyday life, no routine punishment for homosexuals etc.

Salvelinus

Mystik Monkey wrote: »

without wanting to turn this into a debate on the merits or otherwise of the Cuban health system, I don't think you can turn a blind eye to what has gone on in Cuba outside of this one area.

Sure they've got a good healthcare system in place, but, even that has come at some cost to the population at large. I'd wonder if the general populus would accept a less good health system as a trade off for maybe a bit of freedom of speech, less government interference in everyday life, no routine punishment for homosexuals etc.

Exactly, I'm no fan of the regime that was there before Castro and the attitude of the US towards Cuba especially when they brown nose Saudi Arabia is ridiculous but romanticising the Castro regime is bonkers.

Joey the lips

Mystik Monkey wrote: »

without wanting to turn this into a debate on the merits or otherwise of the Cuban health system, I don't think you can turn a blind eye to what has gone on in Cuba outside of this one area.

Sure they've got a good healthcare system in place, but, even that has come at some cost to the population at large. I'd wonder if the general populus would accept a less good health system as a trade off for maybe a bit of freedom of speech, less government interference in everyday life, no routine punishment for homosexuals etc.

True enough. It does have its problems. What interests me though is According to the World Health Organization, Cuba provides a doctor for every 170 residents and has the second highest doctor to patient ratio in the world after Italy.Cuba attracts about 20000 paying tourists , generating revenues of around $40m a year for the Cuban economy. Cuba has been serving health tourists from around the world for more than 20 years. The country operates a special division of hospitals specifically for the treatment of foreigners and diplomats. Foreign patients travel to Cuba for a wide range of treatments including eye surgery neurological disorders such as M.S and Parkinsons disese, massive amounts of cosmetic surgery, addictions treatment, and orthopaedics. Most patients are from Latin America, Europe and Canada, and a growing number of Americans also are coming.

This is all quoted on the WHO site above. I have no doubt that there are wrongs in cuba but i faimly believe alot of these wrongs would be gone if american sanctions were. What have the americans to fear of castro! Oh i forgot the americans dont like socialism! Its funny how this is actually delth with in the charter of rights america is signed up to!

Dr Galen

I'll agree that from the outside looking in, the US sanctions against Cuba do seem a bit old school. Considering a lot of the events that led to them in the first place was off the back of the Cold War, in todays political landscape, they seem to serve less and less purpose.

Unfortunately, if a US President stated that they wanted to repeal said sanctions, it would be political suicide. There are still many many people in the states who lived through and grew up during the Cold War, and were fed huge amounts of anti Soviet propaganda. Some justified, some not, but thats what they have ingrained within their political psyche, and IMHO this will take a long time to overcome. If I'm not mistaken though hasn't Obama made some efforts to bridge the gap?

I don't see though how the US sanctions could have an effect on press control, or the silencing of the dissenters within Cuban society?

From an economic point of view, sure, the sanctions would allow for trade between the nations, but considering Cuba has very strict controls on private enterprise, I don't see how this would help the average Pablo in the street.

Salvelinus

Joey the lips wrote: »

True enough. It does have its problems. What interests me though is According to the World Health Organization, Cuba provides a doctor for every 170 residents and has the second highest doctor to patient ratio in the world after Italy.Cuba attracts about 20000 paying tourists , generating revenues of around $40m a year for the Cuban economy. Cuba has been serving health tourists from around the world for more than 20 years. The country operates a special division of hospitals specifically for the treatment of foreigners and diplomats. Foreign patients travel to Cuba for a wide range of treatments including eye surgery neurological disorders such as M.S and Parkinsons disese, massive amounts of cosmetic surgery, addictions treatment, and orthopaedics. Most patients are from Latin America, Europe and Canada, and a growing number of Americans also are coming.

This is all quoted on the WHO site above. I have no doubt that there are wrongs in cuba but i faimly believe alot of these wrongs would be gone if american sanctions were. What have the americans to fear of castro! Oh i forgot the americans dont like socialism! Its funny how this is actually delth with in the charter of rights america is signed up to!

But why would a socialist paradise need help from capitalism? I agree the US stance towards Cuba is hypocritical but having a good health care system doesn't make it a great country. My wife worled in a hospital with someone who worked in a Miami hospital and he claimed alot of people from Cuba would frauduently come into Miami hospitals for certain procedures so the travelling thing is a two way street.

Dr Galen

in fairness I think at this stage half of Miami is Cuban, so finding a Cuban in a hospital in Miami isn't that much of a surprise.

Salvelinus

Mystik Monkey wrote: »

in fairness I think at this stage half of Miami is Cuban, so finding a Cuban in a hospital in Miami isn't that much of a surprise.

Doesn't that statistic say something about the island in itself?

Dr Galen

oh I'd totally agree Salv. The fact that so many people try their damnest to get off the island says a lot, not necessarily anything to do with healthcare tourism though