Cuba's health system: Challenges ahead

Abstract

Cuba's exclusively public health system has been quite unique in pairing limited resources with excellent results. It continued to perform well during the economic crisis of the 1990s, and now that the hardships are being overcome, new opportunities are developing—as well as threats: (1) economic recovery should permit reinforcing of the system's effectiveness; (2) Cuba's increasing international solidarity in health also poses it corresponding challenges at home; (3) the ageing of the population necessitates adjustments to the health care system. However, the original principles of the health care system are not under question. Cuba can be considered a unique laboratory, and deserves more attention from the international public health community.