Raghu writes: >> I was not disputing the existence of a drug shortage in Cuba. I was >> disputing the implication therein that there was a serious health care >> crisis in Cuba. Cuba does not have epidemics of infectious diseases >> and Cubans are not developing any immunities to "super-bacteria" and >> the very idea is absurd considering their tremendous achievements in >> health-care. >> >> The United States could perhaps learn a thing or two from Cuba about >> providing basic health-care for the 45M uninsured people living here. >> Of course that requires admitting that the capitalist health-care >> system may not be perfect afterall and may even have "inherent >> problems" of its own. Somehow I have a feeling that you would not be >> willing to admit that.
I did not say or imply that there is a serious health case crisis in Cuba. I was criticizing (or more specifically, mocking) the idea that any success Cuba has in health care (or any other field) is because of, and not in despite of, shortages. I doubt the central planners at Cuban High Command thought: "To improve our health care system, let's stop using antibiotics." In fact, my understanding is that Cuba has a very bifurcated health care system (one free for locals and an entirely separate pay for foreigners), and there are plenty of antibiotics for the foreigners. David Shemano
