Mark Wilson gives you some tips on organising an elective in Cuba
Cuba is the Caribbean's largest island, and it is the only one with a Communist regime. Its Spanish colonial history has persisted through the US sanctions since 1962 to provide a unique and vibrant culture. Cuba is renowned for its cigars and music. More recently, the high quality of health care, despite the limited resources, has been attracting attention.
Medicine
It is hard to believe that a country under US sanctions can provide "free" care without waiting lists (we can't even do that in the United Kingdom). That said, there is a desperate shortage of materials, and you may be asked to take some supplies out with you. If that is the case, contact ECHO (www.echohealth.org.uk) to do it properly (you don't want to be stopped at customs). Also think about taking any slightly out of date copies of the British National Formulary or textbooks that may be of use. Many of the health problems are similar to those of most Western countries. HIV prevalence, however, is very low (0.03%).
Visa requirements
A visa to Cuba costs £15. This allows you to stay as a tourist for 30 days, although it can be extended to six months when there. This visa is available "instantly" from the embassy. The embassy's official line on electives is that you will require a student visa (£47), which requires two passport photos and an invitation from the school, and takes a couple of days to process. Visit the embassy between 9 30 am and 12 30 pm, Monday to Friday (167 High Holborn,
London. Tel: 020 7240 2488).
The medical schools and hospitals
An extremely useful web site is www.infomed.sld.cu. This site lists several specialist hospitals as well as general hospitals. It also provides weblinks for many of these as well as for some medical schools. The website, however, is only in Spanish, so if you're not yet fluent (and it's a good idea to have a good working knowledge if you're planning an elective in Cuba), translate
the page using the translate function on Medicstravel.com or altavista.com.
The School of Public Health (Escuela Nacional de Salud Publica, ENSAP) in Havana is helpful in arranging electives. It can arrange tailor made courses, depending on what you want to do and for how long. Email Fernando Ruiz Egurrola at fernando@ensap.sld.cu with your inquiry (but in Spanish!).
Thirteen areas have medical schools, although each listing may have a number of medical institutions within it (for example, there are 11 in Havana).
* Instituto Superior de Ciencias Medicas "Carlos J Finlay," Carretera Central Oeste y Madame Curie, Camaguey 70 100
* Facultad de Ciencias Medicas Ciego de Avila, Circunvalacion Y Carretera de Moron, Ciego de Avila 65 100
* Facultad de Ciencias Medicas Cienfuegos, Calle 51 Entre 36 Y 38, Cienfuegos 55 100
* Facultad de Ciencias Medicas Guantanamo, Calle 5 Oeste Entre 8 Y 9 Norte, Guantanamo 95 100
* Instituto Superior de Ciencias Medicas de la Habana, Calle 146 y Avenida 31, Playa, Habana 11 600 www.sld.cu/instituciones/iscmh/index.htm
* Facultad de Ciencias Medicas Holguin, Avenida Lenin No.4 Esquina A Aguilera, Holguin 80 100
* Facultad de Ciencias Medicas Las Tunas, Avenida de La Juventud S/N, Las Tunas 75 100
* Facultad de Ciencias Medicas Granma "Celia Sanchez Mandulay," Avenida Camilo Cienfuegas, Esquina Carretera Campechuela, Manzanillo 87 510
* Facultad de Ciencias Medicias Matanzas, Carretera de Quintanilla KM 101, Matanzas 40 100
* Facultad de Ciencias Medicas Pinar Del Rio, Carretera Central KM 89, Pinar del Rio 20 100
* Facultad de Ciencias Medicias Sancti Spiritus, Carretera Circunvalacion Norte, Banda, Sancti Spiritus 60 100
* Instituto Superior de Ciencias Medicas de Villa Clara, Carretera de Acueducto Y Circunvalacion, Santa Clara 50 200
* Instituto Superior de Ciencias Medicas de Santiago de Cuba, Avenida de las Americas Y Calle E, Santiago de Cuba 90 100.
Vaccinations
Typhoid and hepatitis A immunisations are recommended in addition to diphtheria, tuberculosis, and hepatitis B, which you should already be covered for. Rabies is present, and vaccination may be considered. Malaria is not present.
