16 Mar Cuba Has One of the Most Efficient Healthcare Systems in the World – Great.com
Great.com Talks With… MEDICC
Many don’t know it, but Cuba’s health status is practically on par with the USA’s. The difference is that every citizen has access to preventively oriented primary care system at about an eighth of the cost per person compared to the USA. In this episode we talked with Dr. C. William Keck from MEDICC about the importance of Cuba-US collaboration in matters relating to healthcare.
MEDICC stands for Medical Education Cooperation with Cuba. The organization makes people aware of the Cuban model in various ways. They offer sponsored trips to Cuba for US public health officials and educators, a peer-reviewed journal with editorials on health equality called MEDICC Review, the documentary film ¡Salud!, coordination of a network of community leaders in the US developing innovative efforts to address unmet health needs based on their experiences in Cuba, and support for re-entry to the US of US students studying medicine in Cuba.
What Lessons Can We Learn?
Many high-income countries could learn a lot from Cuba’s model. Dr Keck explains that the country’s healthcare system is universally accessible and fully integrated. To improve effectiveness and efficiency, Cuba focuses heavily on early prevention and analysis of localized health risks. A Cuban doctor will typically see all his community members every year. This reduces the need for expensive interventions down the line.
Listen to the whole interview to find out how Cuba has overcome financial difficulties to deliver targeted healthcare solutions. You can also subscribe to MEDICC’s email list or donate to help spread the word and improve the quality of healthcare in your own country.
Want to learn more about MEDICC? You can check out their news section, read their journal MEDICC Review and follow them on Facebook and Twitter
See the full interview here and find more podcasts at Great.com