1) One of the options we're considering is having the law changed to allow greater use of "para-doctors"; nurse-practicioners, physicians aides, etc. We're doing this because small communities can neither attract nor afford doctors. I'm told that Cuba has such a system already in place. I'd like to know the details.
2) Because of increasing specialization, small communities can no longer afford to deliver basic hospital services - such as delivering a baby (because we cannot afford to hire anestheseologists). Cuba apparently has some sort of system whereby pregnant women spend their last month in a special home, complete with specialists. Supposedly, this reduces the costs to manageable while still providing a modern level of service. How does this work?
3) Tele-medicine is apparently quite common in Cuba - enabling specialists to be used in a cost-effective way. Any details? I was told that Stanford U. would know about this but I haven't had the time to contact them.
4) My doctor friends have told me the Cubans are - as a rule - very healthy (obesity is not a problem there) and that their expected lifespan equals ours. Is that true? Thanks in advance. Research on this subject is difficult for a non-specialist with limited time and resources.
The US government has also licensed 150 million dollars in "Humanitarian" aid to Cuba and as a result of that, thier system has not completely collapsed. If you are a foreigner in Cuba and pay dollars, you will get access to thie health care system. If you are a Cuban Peasant, good luck to you.
The Cuban Democracy act of 1972 authorizes us to send them these things.
My point is that thier health system is NOT good. As a matter of fact, it is sickening and I have heard it referred to by Cuban exiles as "Medical Apartheid."
As for birthing, there are a lot of midwives in Cuba. I am sure we have outlawed them in most states here.
I wholeheartedly agree with your first point about the "Para-Doctors", and I can tell that you seem to be a kind and decent man. It is my opinion (And several Nurses associations in the Northeast.) that there are to many regs on the books which limits a Doctors time dealing with the trivial when a RN could have done the procedure just as easily. Did that make sense? LOL!
I would never want to go through Cubas Health Care system unless I was a party boss or a rich foreigner. If I was a rich guy, it would be kind of silly to go down there, wouldn't it? Even Blue Cross/Blue Shield is LIGHT years ahead of all but the most advanced techniques in Cubas medical community.
As I have said, I knew Cuban expatriots when I was in the military and when your friends said that obesity was not a problem, they would have howled with laughter and replied...
"One can not be obese, when one does not have enough to eat!"