Holguín: Negative Impact of Helms Burton Act on Hospitalized Children
- Written by Maylin Betancourt
- Published in Health
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Most of the people of Holguín cannot even think that health institutions like the pediatric hospital "Octavio de la Concepción de la Pedraja” could stop providing free service if they do not belong anymore to the public health system.
This would be a viable possibility according to the Title III of the Helms-Burton Act, which has a negative impact in all sectors of the country´s development including health, with greater impact on patients admitted to Cuba hospitals, mainly children in the pediatric intensive care unit.
In this sense, Dr. Carlos Alberto Córdova Vega, who is the head of the Intensive Care Service of the pediatric hospital of Holguín, said that this interventionist policy affects the health sector and referred to the ABL-800 equipment, which is a gasometer used to perform several studies on critically ill patients, which for months has not been used due to lack of reagents, hindered by the US blockade on the island. However, alternatives are sought by using other equipment of lower quality.
Dr. Córdova also referred to the cardiorespiratory monitors, essential in the care of this type of patients, the perfusion syringes, infusion pumps and the availability of antibiotics.
According to the specialist, the multidisciplinary team in charge of the intensive care unit does not stop looking alternatives to solve these problems, as each patient is always guaranteed the doctor, the nurse and the medications to restore their health status.
Although health service in Cuba is free, the estimated daily average of the cost of the service amounts to 432 CUP, a figure that no patient or family member has to pay.
Despite the adversities, the medical staff of the hospital works each day to improve the health of patients and achieve a favorable evolution, making all efforts worth.