Correspondent of the Day: Cuba’s Biotech Is World-Renowned
Cuba's Biotech Is World-Renowned
Editor, Times-Dispatch: Regarding the Commentary column, "Cuba Lacks TP and Health Care, Not Murderous Leaders": Perhaps in her next column about Cuba or health care, Robin Beres won't muddy her argument with irrelevant historical factoids and cobwebbed Cold War rhetoric that's completely unrelated to the discussion at hand. Perhaps Beres may find room for the well-known report from the World Health Organization that readers might consider germane to the national debate on health care:
Cuba and the United States are tied for 37th place among all nations in life expectancy, the universal, cross-border measure of health care quality around the world. Yet, the United States spends a whopping $6,719 per person, while Cuba spends just $362 per person.
While Fidel and Raul Castro will never escape their deplorable record for human rights abuses and political intolerance, they should be given credit for at least two things:
- The creation of an influential biotechnology industry whose low-cost medicines and intellectual property are starting to compete with U.S. and European pharmaceutical giants in world markets and have begun to extend life expectancy in many developing nations;
Creating, for about 20 cents on the dollar, a health care system that, by one very important measure, seems to be the equal of the one we have here at home.
Tim Loughran.
Bon Air.
Advertisement
Reader Reactions
Sorry. The Cuban people do NOT see the benefits of either the health care system or the scientific advances.
Mr. Loughran-I do not know if you have any contact with any actual Cubans, your letter suggests to me that you do not.
I apologize in advance if I am incorrect on that score.
I made many Cuban friends while living in San Juan in the 60’s and 70’s. Many of them ended up in New Jersey and I have kept in touch.
They in turn of course have kept in touch with their families at “home.“
Miss Beres column was very much up to date and truthful. It is the Castro regime that is firmly rooted in the Cold War era.
I would just like to add a little love note to the Cuban people who are the most industrious, intelligent and talented people anywhere on the planet.
“The well known report” from WHO is oft quoted and always misleading.
Every country reports their mortality numbers differently.
The US reports all accidents and murders for instance. When those numbers are factored OUT the US does not come in at 37 with Cuba. It comes in closer to the top.
The same is true for how the mortality rates for infants are compiled. It is simple to look up.
The health care numbers are based on availability of care NOT quality of care.
The US comes out on top on the quality end.
And ethnic diversity in this large country also plays a big role.
The Japanese and Swedes for instance have lower mortality rates in this country just as they do in their own.
The connection is not difficult to make.
And lastly the Cuban government has made gigantic strides in the last few years in the biotech and nanotech fields.
It is a shame that the Cuban people see the benefits of either their much touted health care system or the scientific advances.
Letter will irratate hot-heated arrogants among us. They don’t like to hear our more-profit-only health care delivery system lags most other advanced nations; they’ll be really upset about comparing Cuba’s system to ours.
While we do lead the world in monetary expenditures for mility might, spending almost 50% of worlds’ such, maintaining our #1 position as arms dealer, and at any given time having military special ops in 80 or so countries, little Cuba has built world-wide appreciation for the medical foreign mission teams; especially, in Africa. Even immediately after hurricane Katrina hit our nation, Cuba offered no charge medical missions to New Orleans and MS Gulf Coast. “NO” was response from Junior Bush’s administration. Better Americans suffer and die than be helped by Cuban doctors?
We still have diehards who want NO change for our system, even though the Kaiser Foundation found in recent 2009 Employer Benefits Survey the insurance premium cost per family is now $13,375 per year ($1,115/month) per employee with need for family coverage. Over the past decade, premiums have increased by 138%. By 2019 the average family plan will cost $30,083. Thus, to fill the trough of greed of insurers and other profiteers at whose expense? Well, each employer slot, each employee, has a total cost. Off the top comes such insurance cost. Now you know why your merit raises have not kept up with inflation past 20+ years; why your future raises will be even less than past; why when economy fully recovers, many employers will still have less workers than in Y2007, as they just can not afford the growing cost of for-profit-only health care, meaning YOU suffer; your children will suffer as they seek work.
Many of you are content to see your $ go to Anthem BCBS and others. What the heck, as long as you are happy. After all, politics means more so some than financial well-being.
Post a Comment(Requires free registration)
- Please avoid offensive, vulgar, or hateful language.
- Respect others.
- Use the "Flag Comment" link when necessary.
- See the Terms and Conditions for details.
Advertisement