The “Hermanos Ameijeiras” Clinical Surgical Hospital in Havana has publicly denied claims circulated on social media by left-leaning journalist Carlos Montero.
Montero alleged that patients on ventilators had died due to failures linked to Cuba's energy situation, attributing it to the U.S. "blockade" on fuel and medical supplies.
In an official statement, the leaders of the renowned Cuban hospital firmly stated: "During the period referenced in this publication, there were no deaths in our institution related to failures in assisted mechanical ventilation."
However, the hospital did not deny that power outages are occurring in medical facilities across the country. The energy crisis is genuine, affecting every sector in Cuba, especially healthcare, but it is not the result of the U.S. "blockade."
The clarification comes in response to the rapid spread of Montero's message, which was a repost from the Your Favorite Guy profile on X. The post sparked alarm and fueled various narratives about the hospital crisis in Cuba amid the frequent collapses of the National Electrical System.
Montero, a journalist with experience in networks like Telemundo, CNN en Español, and América TV, as well as a university professor and five-time Emmy winner, shared and amplified content attributing the alleged deaths to the U.S. "blockade."
Following institutional backlash and public scrutiny, he removed the post from his profile. Nonetheless, he retained a repost from another user persisting in the narrative of deaths related to Cuba's energy issues and blaming the United States, which continues to generate debate on social media.
This incident once again highlights the circulation of unverified information regarding the situation in Cuba, in a context marked by blackouts and structural challenges impacting essential services in the country.
The hospital's response aims to curb misinformation surrounding a particularly sensitive issue like critical patient care.
Beyond this specific episode, the reality of Cuba's healthcare system is characterized by a profound structural crisis, with shortages of supplies, deteriorating infrastructure, and increasing pressure on medical staff.
Power outages, medication shortages, and technological limitations directly affect the quality of medical services, causing ongoing concern among patients and their families.
In this environment, the spread of unverified information exacerbates public uncertainty, while the healthcare system continues to face challenges that demand urgent solutions and transparent communication.
Understanding the Impact of Misinformation on Cuba's Healthcare Crisis
What was Carlos Montero's claim about the Cuban hospital?
Carlos Montero claimed that patients connected to ventilators at a Cuban hospital died due to failures linked to the country’s energy crisis, which he attributed to the U.S. blockade on fuel and medical supplies.
How did the hospital respond to Montero's allegations?
The hospital issued a statement denying any deaths related to assisted mechanical ventilation failures during the period mentioned in Montero's claims.
Is the energy crisis affecting Cuban healthcare facilities?
Yes, the energy crisis is real and affects various sectors in Cuba, including healthcare, but the hospital clarified that it is not responsible for the alleged ventilator failures mentioned by Montero.