My Fleep:
News
News
Medicine Without Borders
As we excitedly wait for film maker Michael Moore's new
masterpiece,"Sicko," I decided to do some research on
Cuba's healthcare system.
"Sicko" spotlights the negligent U.S. healthcare system. In
a brilliant example of contrast, Moore takes 911 fire
fighters and rescue workers with life threatening lung
problems their health insurance policies refused to cover,
first to the U.S. Post Guantanamo Bay in Cuba, where care
was refused; then to Havana, where the doctors there
happily treated them.
50,000 people are without healthcare insurance in the
United States. Many of those who are insured are under
insured. The job of the insurance companies is to deny
claims and services to their clients, whether they admit
it, or not.
According to Health Care Now, the U.S. ranked 58 in the
provision of healthcare worldwide. More than 50% of
American bankruptcies are the result of inability to pay
for medical emergencies.
The United States has aggressively attempted and
consistently failed to destroy the communist government of
Fidel Castro, most recently through an ongoing blockade of
goods and services into that country.
Due to the pressure the U.S. has exerted on other countries
to stop their trade with Cuba, Cuba has been forced to
request higher prices for goods and services, including
medicine. In one year, Cuba had to pay an extra 45 million
dollars for pharmaceuticals, which is 80% to 140% more than
other buyers of medicine, according to Medi-Cuba, the Cuban
firm that imports medicine and human technology.
Nevertheless, Cuba continues to offer free and
comprehensive healthcare to all her citizens.
In addition, since 1963, Cuba has exported its exemplary
healthcare service around the world, sending doctors and
its own technological advancements in medicine to countries
throughout Latin America and Africa.
Cuba provided much needed medical support after the 2005
earthquake in Kashmir, Pakistan. Fidel Castro offered to
lend medical support after the devastation following
Hurricane Katrina. Medical Personnel were packed and ready
to go.
Unfortunately, the U.S. chose to play politics over the
saving of lives.
EXPORTING HEALTHCARE
Cuba trains international students at its medical schools.
After Hurricane George and Mitch plummeted Central America
and the Caribbean, Cuban Doctors rushed to the disaster
zone, as was their practice for similar acts of Mother
Nature.
When it was time to go back to Cuba, the team of doctors
saw a need for posting doctors in several of these
countries in order to train local people in medicine.
Thus the Havana-based Latin American School of Medicine or
ELAM, was born, offering $10,000 scholarships for free
medical training.
The Program has grown to 22,000 students from Latin
America, the Caribbean, Africa, Asia and the United States.
The students attend ELAM and 28 other medical schools
across Cuba. The students represent all ethnic groups, 51%
are women, and they come from 30 countries.
A young person from inner city Bronx who chooses to take
part in this program, forinstance, must promise to take her
expertise back to the neighborhood she came from.
350,000 people now work in the healthcare field in Cuba,
serving a population of 11 million people. Everyone has
access to doctors, nurses, specialists and medicines. A
doctor and nurse team oversees every neighborhood.
House calls are routine. The wisdom of treating a patient
holistically, knowing a patient's family and her
environment, is crucial to successful treatment.
Doctors and nurses in Cuba are trained in acupuncture,
herbal treatments, massage and other natural health
modalities, as well, something lacking in American
healthcare.
The exportation of Cuban healthcare is a Peace Project that
we all can learn from.
Before Cuba sent doctors to Pakistan, relations between
these two countries were not harmonious. But now, the
relationship is "magnificent," says Dr Ceballos, a Cuban
physician.
The investments in healthcare missions "are resources that
prevent confrontation with other nations," Dr Ceballos
explains. "The solidarity with Cuba has restrained
aggressions of all kinds."
And in a statement that acknowledges Cuba's vulnerabilities
on the global stage, Dr. Ceballos explains, "It's
infinitely better to invest in peace than to invest in war."
A SINGLE PAYOR PLAN IN PENNSYLVANIA
"Family and Business Healthcare Security Act of 2007" is a
single payor healthcare plan currently being set forth in
the state of Pennsylvania where I live. It may prove to be
the prototype healthcare plan for every state in the union.
Michael Moore's "Sicko" has opened the debate. Now we must
get active and change the world.
----------------------------------------------------
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--=-=-=-=-=-=-
=-=-=-
Kate Loving Shenk is a writer, healer, musician and the
creator of the e-book called "Transform Your Nursing Career
and Discover Your Calling and Destiny." Click here to find
out how to order the e-book:
http://www.nursingcareertransformation.com Check Out Kate's
Blog: http://www.nursehealers.typepad.com
As we excitedly wait for film maker Michael Moore's new
masterpiece,"Sicko," I decided to do some research on
Cuba's healthcare system.
"Sicko" spotlights the negligent U.S. healthcare system. In
a brilliant example of contrast, Moore takes 911 fire
fighters and rescue workers with life threatening lung
problems their health insurance policies refused to cover,
first to the U.S. Post Guantanamo Bay in Cuba, where care
was refused; then to Havana, where the doctors there
happily treated them.
50,000 people are without healthcare insurance in the
United States. Many of those who are insured are under
insured. The job of the insurance companies is to deny
claims and services to their clients, whether they admit
it, or not.
According to Health Care Now, the U.S. ranked 58 in the
provision of healthcare worldwide. More than 50% of
American bankruptcies are the result of inability to pay
for medical emergencies.
The United States has aggressively attempted and
consistently failed to destroy the communist government of
Fidel Castro, most recently through an ongoing blockade of
goods and services into that country.
Due to the pressure the U.S. has exerted on other countries
to stop their trade with Cuba, Cuba has been forced to
request higher prices for goods and services, including
medicine. In one year, Cuba had to pay an extra 45 million
dollars for pharmaceuticals, which is 80% to 140% more than
other buyers of medicine, according to Medi-Cuba, the Cuban
firm that imports medicine and human technology.
Nevertheless, Cuba continues to offer free and
comprehensive healthcare to all her citizens.
In addition, since 1963, Cuba has exported its exemplary
healthcare service around the world, sending doctors and
its own technological advancements in medicine to countries
throughout Latin America and Africa.
Cuba provided much needed medical support after the 2005
earthquake in Kashmir, Pakistan. Fidel Castro offered to
lend medical support after the devastation following
Hurricane Katrina. Medical Personnel were packed and ready
to go.
Unfortunately, the U.S. chose to play politics over the
saving of lives.
EXPORTING HEALTHCARE
Cuba trains international students at its medical schools.
After Hurricane George and Mitch plummeted Central America
and the Caribbean, Cuban Doctors rushed to the disaster
zone, as was their practice for similar acts of Mother
Nature.
When it was time to go back to Cuba, the team of doctors
saw a need for posting doctors in several of these
countries in order to train local people in medicine.
Thus the Havana-based Latin American School of Medicine or
ELAM, was born, offering $10,000 scholarships for free
medical training.
The Program has grown to 22,000 students from Latin
America, the Caribbean, Africa, Asia and the United States.
The students attend ELAM and 28 other medical schools
across Cuba. The students represent all ethnic groups, 51%
are women, and they come from 30 countries.
A young person from inner city Bronx who chooses to take
part in this program, forinstance, must promise to take her
expertise back to the neighborhood she came from.
350,000 people now work in the healthcare field in Cuba,
serving a population of 11 million people. Everyone has
access to doctors, nurses, specialists and medicines. A
doctor and nurse team oversees every neighborhood.
House calls are routine. The wisdom of treating a patient
holistically, knowing a patient's family and her
environment, is crucial to successful treatment.
Doctors and nurses in Cuba are trained in acupuncture,
herbal treatments, massage and other natural health
modalities, as well, something lacking in American
healthcare.
The exportation of Cuban healthcare is a Peace Project that
we all can learn from.
Before Cuba sent doctors to Pakistan, relations between
these two countries were not harmonious. But now, the
relationship is "magnificent," says Dr Ceballos, a Cuban
physician.
The investments in healthcare missions "are resources that
prevent confrontation with other nations," Dr Ceballos
explains. "The solidarity with Cuba has restrained
aggressions of all kinds."
And in a statement that acknowledges Cuba's vulnerabilities
on the global stage, Dr. Ceballos explains, "It's
infinitely better to invest in peace than to invest in war."
A SINGLE PAYOR PLAN IN PENNSYLVANIA
"Family and Business Healthcare Security Act of 2007" is a
single payor healthcare plan currently being set forth in
the state of Pennsylvania where I live. It may prove to be
the prototype healthcare plan for every state in the union.
Michael Moore's "Sicko" has opened the debate. Now we must
get active and change the world.
----------------------------------------------------
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--=-=-=-=-=-=-
=-=-=-
Kate Loving Shenk is a writer, healer, musician and the
creator of the e-book called "Transform Your Nursing Career
and Discover Your Calling and Destiny." Click here to find
out how to order the e-book:
http://www.nursingcareertransformation.com Check Out Kate's
Blog: http://www.nursehealers.typepad.com
