A video shot within the walls of the "Luis Ramírez López" Psychiatric Hospital in Guantánamo has surfaced on TikTok, shared by the user "Cuba Actual." The footage reveals a spacious room filled with numerous neatly made beds, surrounded by a porch with chairs that overlooks a large green area where patients stroll.
Despite a few broken chairs and limited resources, the facility appears generally clean and organized, a rarity for such institutions in Cuba. "This must be staged for a government visit; no Cuban who knows the reality of current hospitals would believe it," commented one viewer. Another chimed in, "We all know that if you go to a hospital, you won't even find sheets on the beds." A young woman added, "This one looks fine; if you saw the one in Santiago de Cuba, you'd faint from the poor hygiene."
Just over a month ago, the mother of a patient admitted to this hospital reported the lack of medical equipment and the mistreatment patients endure from their caregivers. According to her, the Electroshock equipment, crucial for electroconvulsive therapy for patients in crisis, has been broken for months, and the prolonged absence of proper treatment has affected both the patients' and the healthcare workers' behavior.
"The patients exhibit aggressive behavior, attacking each other, and the caregivers' response is equally aggressive," she detailed, sharing photos of the injuries patients sustained from the assaults. The mother explained that repeated pleas for help to the health minister have gone unanswered, leaving both patients and their families in distress as they watch their loved ones suffer without relief.
"The response has been negative, citing a lack of resources for equipment repair. These are human beings who, despite their illness, experience pain," she emphasized. Days following the publication of her complaint, the provincial Health Directorate assured that the psychiatric patients receive medical attention from multidisciplinary teams that enhance their safety.
Without denying the equipment shortages or addressing the issue of staff mistreatment, the government statement claimed that "professors with vast experience," along with nurses and residents, provide "highly rigorous scientific medical care" at the facility daily.
Insights into Guantánamo Psychiatric Hospital Conditions
What was revealed in the leaked video from Guantánamo Psychiatric Hospital?
The video showed a large room with many neatly made beds and a surrounding porch overlooking a green area. Despite a few broken chairs, the facility appeared clean and organized.
What issues have been reported at the hospital?
Reports have highlighted the lack of medical equipment and mistreatment of patients by caregivers. The Electroshock equipment has been broken, affecting therapy for patients in crisis.
How has the government responded to these reports?
The government acknowledged that multidisciplinary teams are providing medical care without addressing the equipment shortages or allegations of mistreatment.