CUBAN DOCTORS HERE TO HELP, NOT COMPETE

“The Cuban doctors and nurses are not here to compete with locals or introduce their system of medicine.We are here to work and help,” said Dr Juan Ulises Castillo Sanz in an interview at The Normandie hotel yesterday.

A specialist in internal medicine and intensive care, Castillo Sanz arrived in TT last Thursday with 35 other colleagues (30 nurses and five doctors). Castillo Sanz said he became aware that their presence is an “issue” from reports in the media. He said they wanted no “sensationalisation.”  “I don’t like giving interviews.  We have not come here for that,” said Castillo Sanz with a smile. But he conceded because the Cubans had “nothing to hide,” while some of his countrymen and women played a game of dominos, a popular pastime in Cuba, on the verandah of the St Ann’s hotel. Though there has been much debate locally about the Cuban doctors’ level of English and their ability to communicate with their local patients, Castillo Sanz said the doctors know their “medical English” and a language barrier had never caused problems to the detriment of patients, when the Cubans have worked in non-Spanish speaking countries. Castillo Sanz said he and his colleagues would simply adapt to TT’s laws, language, culture and health system. 

In Cuba, he said, the health system is divided into levels—the first involves walk-in consultation with a family doctor. These provide health care to 90 percent of the population. Polyclinics, hospitals and research institutes offer more specialised care. The “institutes” offer a wide range of specialised areas in medicine—cardiology, oncology, neurology, hematology etc. “Very ill people go to institutes,” the Cuban medic said. Forty-Six year old Castillo Sanz has 20 years experience in medicine. He worked at a hospital for many years until a promotion two years ago put him in charge of the national system of health emergency. He was based in Havana. His job was to organise, coordinate, supervise the functioning of all Intensive Care Units at hospitals and the mobile emergency (ie ambulance) service. While declining to say how much he earned in Cuba, he said the amount was enough to live “normally.”  Castillo Sanz said the State guarantees “basic things to live in peace”.  Assistance is provided for study, health care, social assistance, housing, employment. Castillo Sanz said the long standing United States economic embargo has caused hardship in Cuba and has had an “enormous” impact on the health sector, in terms of the acquisition of equipment, accessing medication and the latest medical literature. Cuban doctors also do not have “exchanges” with their colleagues abroad.

Despite this, Castillo Sanz said there is no problem with the level of care provided. He attributed this to the will of the government which sources pharmaceutical items and equipment at higher cost in markets very far away—China, Japan, Switzerland and Germany. He said approximately US$180-$200 million is spent annually on health care in Cuba. TT spends TT $1.2billion. Sanz Castillo, who is employed as a consultant in TT, does not know where he will be assigned to work. He said the doctors and nurses in the group come from most of Cuba’s 14 provinces. No novice to working abroad, he has left a family behind to work in TT for two years. He will have a month’s vacation each year. His reasons for coming to TT are: “For a new experience, opportunity, and to have a relationship with my Caribbean family.” He said the doctors and nurses all signed up voluntarily, as Cubans always were willing to help out abroad. The doctors and nurses celebrated the 50th Anniversary of Fidel Castro’s first attempt to overthrow the Batista government with a “quiet toast” at Normandie. They have not yet had an opportunity to see any sights in TT. Neither have they met with any of their local counterparts or visited any hospitals. Castillo Sanz said he has been taking short walks and resting. A female doctor and nurse were due to arrive yesterday to join their colleagues. They are in time for the first orientation sessions in TT language and culture which begins today at the hotel. A second batch of medical personnel will arrive on August 10 comprising 34 doctors and ten nurses.