Patients requiring hemodialysis in the town of Contramaestre, located in Santiago de Cuba, have been experiencing significant disruptions in their treatment at the Orlando Pantoja Tamayo Hospital. This situation was brought to light by Ney Fernández in a Facebook post on the Revolico Contramaestre group this Thursday.
The issue reportedly escalated over three consecutive days. On Saturday, patients received only two hours of dialysis, a duration Fernández deemed insufficient compared to the standard four-hour session. By Tuesday, although patients arrived as scheduled, they left without treatment after waiting for hours. The explanation given was a lack of water and a broken turbine.
On Thursday morning, starting at six, patients in the first shift were once again left unattended. "Today's excuse is a lack of fuel," Fernández reported, expressing frustration over unfulfilled promises of solutions.
Seeking Solutions Amidst Neglect
With no response from the hospital, one patient approached the local government to speak with the president of the Municipal Assembly of People's Power. According to the complaint, the official claimed to be unaware of the situation and pledged to find alternatives, a promise that also went unmet.
Photos accompanying the post depicted several individuals sitting in the hospital's corridor, with no waiting room available. A user accompanying her sister-in-law described the scene: "Everyone passing by sees us lying on the floor. It's all so sad." Another commenter was more blunt: "There isn't even a waiting room provided for them or their mandatory companions."
Public Health Assurances Questioned
One Cuban woman, identifying herself as a dialysis patient, confirmed the account: "It's very true; I'm a patient going through this." Another recalled her son's reliance on the same treatment, warning, "Skipping even one dialysis session can be fatal for them."
The complaint also challenges a public statement made by Health Minister José Ángel Portal Miranda, who in February 2026 assured that dialysis services were guaranteed and that no patient would lose access to this critical treatment. However, just days later, the minister admitted to The Associated Press that Cuba's healthcare system was "on the brink of collapse."
Fernández concluded his post with a plea for immediate action, stating, "These patients received incomplete treatment, and then there are days without any treatment at all, which they need to survive."
Historical Issues at the Hospital
In July 2026, patients at Santiago de Cuba's Saturnino Lora Hospital reported reduced dialysis sessions due to a shortage of essential concentrate. Similarly, in June, patients at the Manuel Ascunce Domenech Hospital in Camagüey went almost a week without dialysis due to basic supply shortages. In Villa Clara, renal patients have endured neglect for nine months.
The Orlando Pantoja Tamayo Hospital has a history of complaints, including unsanitary conditions in the intensive care unit in April, pregnant women carrying water buckets up stairs in August, and flooded floors in the emergency department in September.
FAQs on Hemodialysis Challenges in Contramaestre
What issues are hemodialysis patients facing in Contramaestre?
Patients have reported incomplete treatment sessions, prolonged waiting times without receiving care, and a lack of adequate facilities, such as a waiting room.
What reasons have been given for the lack of treatment?
Excuses provided include a shortage of water, a broken turbine, and a lack of fuel, leading to canceled or shortened dialysis sessions.
How has the government responded to these complaints?
A local government official claimed to be unaware of the situation and promised to seek solutions, but no action has been taken to date.