A multidisciplinary research team reviewed key US regulations, surveyed 12 American medical and pharmaceutical companies and documented the experience of Cuban import firms. To assess the impact of sanctions on health care, the team visited 46 treatment centres and related facilities and conducted 160 interviews with medical and other health care professionals, government officials and representatives from nongovernmental organizations, churches and international aid agencies. The resulting 300-page report is full of examples of how the embargo has affected Cuba. Waterborne disease rates have more than doubled, making diarrhea the second most common reason to visit a Cuban physician. The country's mammography program is crippled by a shortage of film and spare parts.
Surgical rates are down because of a lack of supplies and equipment, including anesthetics.
Drugs for leukemia patients and children with heart disease are not available, since the embargo effectively bans Cuba from purchasing half of the new world-class drugs on the market. Walking in their shoes My delegation was asked to validate the draft findings contained in that report. Having the opportunity to speak to physicians in a variety of urban and rural facilities allowed us to see their situation at a grassroots level and attempt to walk in their shoes. The terrific challenges they face were evident everywhere we went, yet these beleaguered and battle-weary physicians still managed to summon the energy to face and solve problems while showing little evidence of anger or vengefulness. More than once I was overwhelmed as I thought about trying to care for pediatric patients without access to what Canadian physicians would consider to be the most basic medications and equipment.