The truths and tales of Cuban healthcare
Al-Jazeera: If there is one thing for which Cuba has received praise over the years, it is the Communist government's state-run healthcare system.
Much of this praise is well-deserved. Despite its scarce resources, Cuba has one of the world's lowest infant mortality rates - just slightly lower than that of the US. Life expectancy is 77.5 years, one of the world's highest. And until not so long ago, there was one doctor for every 170 citizens - the highest patient-per-doctor ratio in the world.
Of course, the government can afford so many doctors because they are paid extremely low salaries by international standards. The average is between $30 and $50 per month.
And the benefits of this healthcare have not only been felt by Cubans.
Under Fidel Castro, the former Cuban president, hundreds of child victims of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster, left without proper medical attention after the collapse of the Soviet Union, were invited to Cuba.
Cuban Health Minister Calls for Strengthened South-South Cooperation
Radio Habana Cuba: Cuban Health Minister Roberto Morales Ojeda has called for strengthened South-South cooperation. Morales spoke at the 5th Meeting of Health Ministers of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries (NAM). The NAM Ministerial Meeting is in the framework of the 65th session of the World Health Assembly that runs through May 26th in Geneva, Switzerland with the theme ‘Current Challenges for World Health: Guaranteeing Equity and Sustainable Financing towards Achieving Universal Health Coverage.’ Morales Ojeda explained that in the current world order, rich countries decide the nature of relations among States. In that sense, he said it is impossible to remain indifferent to the inequalities that prevail in the world today and the resulting unequal distribution of resources in the health sector.
The Cuban health minister spoke about the current challenges to world health.
WHO praises Cuba's health care system
PhilStar.com: Cuba's health care system has a lot to teach the world, the deputy head of the World Health Organization (WHO) said Tuesday during a visit to the Caribbean island nation.
WHO Deputy Director General Dr. Anarfi Asamoa-Baah praised Cuba's health care standards and held the island's universal health care system as a model for other countries to emulate.
Asamoa-Baah is part of a visiting delegation of health experts, including WHO Director General Dr. Margaret Chan, Regional Director for Africa Dr.