The Technical Vice Directorate of the José Luis Miranda University Pediatric Hospital in Santa Clara sparked controversy by posting on Facebook this Saturday under the title “The Truth Behind the Viral Message.” The post aimed to discredit a mother’s plea for assistance as her nine-year-old daughter urgently requires F4 pediatric dialyzers for continued hemodialysis.
Using the account “VTecnica HPediatrico Jlm” and official hashtags such as #CubaEstaFirme and #VillaClaraConTodos, the hospital asserted that the girl “has not missed any dialysis sessions” and deemed it “inaccurate” to label the situation as an emergency.
The hospital further claimed that the family “still possesses dialyzers provided by a private donor,” arguing this disproves the “alleged critical urgency broadcasted.”
Public Outcry and Journalistic Response
The hospital's statement sparked immediate outrage. Independent Cuban journalist Yaiset Rodríguez Fernández, who had shared the mother's plea on social media, refuted the hospital’s claims point by point.
“What you stated in your post is FALSE. The dialyzers you mentioned were used in previous treatments, and the mother did not keep them; she also donated them because they were too large for her daughter. Have some shame and leave that mother alone!” Rodríguez Fernández wrote on Facebook.
The journalist clarified that the mother never reached out to any press outlet nor criticized the Cuban regime; she merely sought assistance for acquiring the supplies necessary for her daughter’s care.
Additionally, Rodríguez Fernández noted that the family resides in Cienfuegos, not Santa Clara, even though the treatment is provided at the Santa Clara hospital.
Support and Broader Implications
Due to the case’s visibility, the family is set to receive an initial shipment of dialyzers facilitated by Gloria la Riva, representative of the Hatuey Project. Another shipment awaits in Broward, Florida, under the care of a University of Miami doctor ready to transport it to Cuba.
Rodríguez Fernández pointed out the underlying contradiction: “If everything were indeed assured, the mother and the hundreds of patients nationwide who rely on these ‘private donors’ wouldn’t need to seek help.”
This incident reflects a documented pattern in Cuba where health institutions respond to public complaints from patients or their families with social media denials, prioritizing the system's image over addressing the grievances.
Similar incidents occurred in June 2024, when Holguín’s Lenin Hospital attempted to discredit a mother’s complaints about unsanitary conditions, and in July this year, when Mayarí’s Public Health department denied the existence of a patient mentioned in social media posts.
Systemic Crisis in Hemodialysis
This case is part of a systemic crisis in Cuba’s hemodialysis network, affecting nearly 3,000 patients across 56 units nationwide. Between 2025 and 2026, treatment interruptions in Camagüey, Santiago de Cuba, Las Tunas, and Holguín were recorded due to shortages of acid concentrate, bicarbonate, dialyzers, and electrical issues.
“A page from the José Luis Miranda University Pediatric Hospital in Santa Clara dared to challenge a mother just to uphold the façade of a collapsing system,” concluded Rodríguez Fernández.
Common Concerns About Cuban Healthcare
Why did the Santa Clara hospital criticize the mother's plea for help?
The hospital claimed that the situation was not an emergency and that the family already had dialyzers provided by a private donor, attempting to discredit the urgency of the mother's request.
How did independent journalist Yaiset Rodríguez Fernández respond to the hospital's claims?
Rodríguez Fernández refuted the hospital's claims, stating that the dialyzers mentioned were unsuitable for the child and had been donated by the mother. She emphasized that the mother was simply seeking help for her daughter without criticizing the government.
What broader issues does this case highlight about Cuba’s healthcare system?
The case underscores a systemic crisis in Cuba’s healthcare, particularly affecting the hemodialysis network, where shortages and resource constraints have led to treatment interruptions and reliance on private donors.