Getting a Doctor in Cuba

We’ve decided to pass on Dr. Salles excellent option. By continuing our search, an even better opportunity has presented before us in Philadelphia. Getting a doctor in Cuba was a great learning experience, and there are a couple of recommendations that I’d give to anyone asking about this path:

1- Be ready to obey the system
On our second day in La Havana, a nurse knocked at our door. “Are Natacha, Valeria, and Gino Ginocchio here?” She asked in a commanding voice. She asked to see our passports, and when we had arrived and when we were planning to leave. After taking notes, she gave us two pieces of paper. “You must go tomorrow to the polyclinic to get tested”, she said. “Why?” We asked. “To ensure you’re ok; the baby doesn’t have to go.” We were concerned with the test, but we had to go otherwise they’d come back for us or wouldn’t let us leave the country.

The morning after we were at the polyclinic at 7 a.m., waiting in line at the blood test laboratory with about 20 people from Cuba. On the wall, there was a sign promoting healthy eating with images of vegetables. Suddenly an older person in line commented, “Look, they tell us to eat those vegetables, but where do we get them? I can’t find vegetables anywhere.” Another old man agreed with him, saying, “Yeah, all I see available in the street are peanuts; I don’t know where they get all those peanuts from; everybody is just selling peanuts; my neighbor got a job offer in the hospital, but she preferred selling peanuts; she makes much more money like that”.

After an hour, we were called in into a narrow room; the assistant pinched us in the finger with freshly unwrapped tiny metal blades, and got drops of blood on little flat glasses. I asked, “What is this test for?” “Malaria”, she answered, “we have reports it’s spreading in Africa.” Then she added, “if the test is positive, we’ll go to your house tomorrow; if it’s negative, this is it.”

We never heard from them again.   

2- Consider the weather

La Havana is extremely humid, and air conditioning is not available everywhere. Having a cast on with a 90 degrees weather and high humidity could require a lot of sacrifice. I’ve been twice to La Havana; the first time was in April, and I had to sleep with a fan blowing air all night. The second time was in January, and the weather was pleasant with a cooling breeze at night; it’s not the best to lie on a beach chair, but it’s convenient to lie on a hospital bed.

3- Do extensive research.

Dr. Salles came strongly recommended, and even though Internet is limited in Cuba, there’s information I was able to find out about him. Dr. Salles has published a study on the benefits of pyramidal energy; the study was done to a group of 251 people, and the results were positive. He also has published a study on a patient, who grew only one bone in the forearm rather than two, and the successful treatment he followed. I admit that out of both articles, the latter had more impact on me.

I hope these tips help someone interested in getting a doctor in Cuba; we could have treated Valeria's mirror foot in the Frank País Hospital there; it was a golden opportunity. But when looking for a doctor, you have to look for diamonds, and diamonds are not up for grabs on the surface, you have to dig dip to find them.

Valeria, Natacha and I at the Frank País Hospital in La Havana, Cuba

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