Health Care Facts: Cuba and the U.S.

Just how does the Cuban health care system measure up to health care provision in the U.S? We took a look at some key indicators from the World Health Organization and the UN.

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by Adam MacKinnon

posted Jun 14, 2007

Sources:

Life Expectancy Graph: Human Development Index, 2006. United Nations Development Programme, 2006.

Others: World Health Organization Core Health Indicators, 2005.

Research and graphics by Adam MacKinnon

MacKinnon, A. (2007, June 14). Health Care Facts: Cuba and the U.S.. Retrieved February 12, 2012, from YES! Magazine Web site: http://www.yesmagazine.org/issues/latin-america-rising/1784. All Rights Reserved

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Reader Comments

Life Span - Health Care Nexus

Posted by George at Jul 20, 2010 02:41 AM

If health care were the sole reason for longevity, you might be able to say that Cuba wins, but the fact is that it is not. Longevity is influenced more by lifestyle than be the quality of health care. With the major causes of deaths in the country being heart disease, lung disease caused by smoking, diabetes, and other diseases that come with bad diet or habits, health care becomes the fire department that wouldn't be otherwise necessary. Cubans are forced by their pocket books to avoid the same indulgences that cause Americans to run to the doctor to fix their problems.