A resident of Holguín took to Facebook to reveal a harrowing incident where an elderly individual nearly lost their life due to a lack of essential medical supplies at the Holguín Clinical-Surgical Hospital. The required paper for conducting an electrocardiogram was reportedly absent, having been systematically stolen from the city's hospitals and sold on the black market for 3,500 Cuban pesos (CUP) per meter.
Ernesto Almaguer Díaz shared on social media that he received a late-night call from a neighbor, urging him to take her father to the hospital amid suspicions of a heart attack. Although doctors initially ruled out the diagnosis based on clinical observation, they couldn't confirm it with an electrocardiogram due to the unavailability of paper for the device.
"The little paper that arrives is simply stolen—yes, STOLEN—from this hospital, the Lenin, and perhaps the Military Hospital as well, and then sold at 3,500 CUP per meter on Calle 13 in San Field," Almaguer Díaz wrote, likening the area to the infamous black market hub of La Cuevita in Havana.
The patient was forced to return the next day to the Lenin Hospital, where the initial heart attack suspicion was finally confirmed.
"Literally, if you don't have the 3,500 CUP, you die," the post starkly concluded.
Systemic Issues in Cuba's Healthcare
Almaguer Díaz directly criticized the party and health officials in Holguín, accusing them of focusing more on slogans and "creative resistance" than ensuring that essential supplies reach those in need. He also condemned the regime's priorities: "This is what happens when there are more patrol cars than ambulances and luxurious hotels with million-dollar budgets."
This issue is far from isolated. The theft and illegal trade of medical supplies from state hospitals is a widespread problem across various provinces. In 2025, healthcare personnel in Granma were arrested for pilfering medications and supplies to sell in underground markets. Similarly, in Pinar del Río, a nurse and an accomplice were apprehended for trafficking syringes, ampoules, and injectable vials.
In February 2025, the police in Manzanillo dismantled an illegal storage facility containing antibiotics, surgical supplies, and controlled medicines. The Lenin Hospital itself had faced previous complaints: in October 2025, power outages left patients without hemodialysis, forcing them to be transferred to the Clinical-Surgical Hospital.
Cuba’s Healthcare Crisis
The healthcare crisis, highlighted by this case, has been officially acknowledged. In February 2026, Health Minister José Ángel Portal Miranda admitted to the Associated Press that the Cuban healthcare system was "on the brink of collapse." By April 2026, 461 out of 651 essential medications were out of stock in state pharmacies, and 96,400 patients were on surgical waiting lists.
Almaguer Díaz dismissed the official narrative blaming the U.S. embargo for the country's woes: "It's not just the so-called 'blockade' that the authorities claim is to blame for our suffering. It's the neglect, institutional abandonment, and corruption that are the most visible evils devouring the Cuban people."
He concluded his post with a stern warning to the regime: "Keep growing fat and neglecting the people. Soon, those who support you will either rebel or perish, and you, as Newton's Law dictates, will fall under your own weight."
Frequently Asked Questions about Cuba’s Medical Supply Crisis
What caused the shortage of electrocardiogram paper in Holguín hospitals?
The shortage is due to systematic theft from hospitals, where paper is stolen and sold on the black market for 3,500 Cuban pesos per meter.
How are officials in Holguín responding to the healthcare crisis?
Officials have been criticized for focusing on slogans and resistance rather than addressing the essential needs of the healthcare system.
Is the issue of stolen medical supplies unique to Holguín?
No, this is a widespread problem across multiple provinces in Cuba, with documented cases of theft and illegal trade of medical supplies.