Amarilis Cortina Rey, Cuba-Verdad
HAVANA, November – Many Cubans are unhappy with the treatment they
receive at the hands of family doctors. Some common complaints:
Many doctors are seldom at their offices. One man said: "When they are
not taking a course in something, they are at the hospital, or some other
excuse."
Patients are seen and given medication perfunctorily, to "get them out
of the way."
Patients are greeted at the doctor’s office with "We are not
seeing anyone today because we are having the office painted."
Patients evidently are not convinced that family medicine, a specialty
instituted by the Public Health Ministry to provide more efficient health care,
is working for them.
In a general sense, the feeling is that the doctors put forth their best
effort, but, like most Cubans, they must also seek additional sources of income
because their government salaries are not enough to carry them through the
month.
It is not unusual to see a doctor, wearing his white lab coat, going from
house to house selling eggs, canned meat or some other product to supplement his
income.
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