The Army of White Coats: Cuba's Medical Offensive

Abstract

Although Cuba is a small, isolated and developing country, it has achieved much progress in healthcare. Cuban constitution guarantees the right to have equal and free access to medical services. The estimated average life expectancy of the Cuban people was 78.9 years (CIA, 2019) in 2018 which is comparable to the developed countries of the West. Castro's communist revolution was instrumental in improving medical services and healthcare in the country. As a communist, Castro believed in free education and universal healthcare. His vision of turning Cuba into a major medical power was also influenced by Ché Guevara; a doctor, fellow communist and friend of Fidel Castro. However, Cuba's healthcare is not only designed to meet domestic needs but also a viable foreign policy tool to achieve its international goals and objectives. As Havana was mostly isolated from the Western World during the Cold War, the government decided to export Guevara's legacy to end political isolation and gain recognition of the international community.