Don't Trust Cuban Health Care Statistics

Mises.org ^ | 06/20/18 | Ryan McMaken

[OddLane]

We've long been told that Cuba's health care system is one of the greatest in the world. In spite of the fact that health usually correlates with wealth in national statistics, we're assured that Cuba's obvious poverty is offset, at least in part, by amazingly low infant mortality rates and life expectancy.

But in a new short article for the journal Health Policy and Planning, Gilbert Berdine, Vincent Geloso, and Benjamin Powell examine some of the ways that the data is being manipulated in Cuba to ensure better-looking health statistics.

For example, on the matter of infant mortality, doctors have been known to redefine dead infants as dead fetuses:

[There is] evidence that physicians likely reclassified early neonatal deaths as late fetal deaths, thus deflating the infant mortality statistics and propping up life expectancy. Cuban doctors were re-categorizing neonatal deaths as late fetal deaths in order for doctors to meet government targets for infant mortality. Abortions of babies in utero who might die soon after birth is a tactic as well...

[LukeL]

I also in no way believe their 99% literacy rate.

[VTenigma]

Wanna see my shocked face?

[cba123]

Not sure I want to make this a pissing match, but also not sure I really want to leave this without some response.

So I’ll just post this.

:D

Wish you all have a nice day, wherever you might be at the moment.

[NativeSon]

The dems manipulated our "health care" data to ram through their anti-Constitutional 0-care and then manipulated the figures showing its out of the gates failure.

All communists lie.

[lowbridge]

“the data is being manipulated in Cuba to ensure better-looking health statistics.”

No way!

[fungoking]

Having visited a friend recovering from surgery in a Cuban hospital (one for the average Cuban, not the one for tourist and communist party higher ups that liberal US politicians tour), I think my vet's office could give better care and would be cleaner.

[laxcoach]

Somewhat related:

My 14 year old son and 10 year old daughter were watching some discovery type show 2 months ago.

The main guy lands in Cuba to investigate something and he is absolutely gushing about how amazing Cuba is.

Then the host says “my gosh look at how healthy everyone is. They are all so skinny because they are so healthy!!!”

My son practically screamed “they are all starving you moron!!!”