The deep transformations in the social and economic bases of the Cuban state after the   revolutionary triumph on January of 1959 allowed the creation of a Unique Health System with the following principles:

1. Functioning of an Unique System of Medical Attention for all the Cuban population.

2- Health is a right for all citizens y a state responsibility.

3- Health’s services should be accessible for all the population.

4- Health’s activities should be integral on nature, with special emphasis in preventive care.

5- Health’s services should be scientifically scheduled.

6- Health’s activities should be developed with the active collaboration of the community.

In the self-defense allegation of Dr. Fidel Castor Ruz in the trial to the “Moncada” Garrison’ fighters, known as “The History will Absolve me” and later politic platform of the revolutionary fight that eventually defeated the tyranny of dictator Fulgencio Batista, el topic  of Health as a supreme right for people is clearly identified. After the defection of a high percentage of the medical personal in the very first years of the Cuban Revolution to United States, an emergent necessity of renovation and re-structuration of the Public Health Services on a national level was imposed. They were precarious, insufficient and predominantly privates before January 1959.   This situation leaded to the massive incorporation of young students to pre-medic courses and the re-enforcement of the Medical Education and Care mechanisms. Priority is given to Primary Medical Care, having this stage as outstanding achieve the creation of the Rural Medical Services which brought health care to the most recondite places of the country. 

All these evidence the will of the State regarding the presence of the Educational and Health’ Promotion components in all population’s levels.

 In 1976 the process of state’s decentralization is institutionalized and a new administrative-political division of the country in 14 provinces and 170 municipalities (one special Municipality) is taken as base of a process of re-structuration and development of the Provincial Health Departments and their functions are re-defined, with special emphasis in capacitating of  its components, the coordination mechanisms with popular organizations to solve the main health problems, the use of communication media for health issues, and the creation of health’s educational programs, among others. During the 80’s, the program of Health’s Promotion is implemented, directed to different actions as the fight against smoking, obesity and sedentary, and sport and outdoor activities. It was supported by the Ministry Public Health and the Cuban Government.

In 1984 is implemented the Primary Health Care and Family Medicine, today already with more than 30 000 doctors and 40 000 family nurses, which facilitates the programming and executing action of health’s promotion, and eventually has lead the quality of health Care in Cuba to levels never reached before.

In the 90’s, despite the negative impact caused in the economy of the country because of  the collapse of the Socialist Block and specially the Soviet Union; the Cuban State and Government assumed different decisions to consolidate the social achievements in Health, Education and Social Security issues. Those programs were executed and are still ongoing, allowing the continuity and improvement of Health’s Care for All Cubans, and even sharing them with other necessitated countries. Those achievements are more remarkable when are seen under the scope of the constant presence of an inhuman blockade of the United States against our country, which extend it outcomes in an extraordinary handicap for the importing and exporting of medicines, equipments and the medical and research collaboration worldwide.

The Newborn Mortality Rate in Cuba (6.3 / 1000 born alive) is one of the lowest in the world y similar only with developed countries. Mortality Indexes in childs from one to four years (4,3 / 10 000 born) and Scholar age (2,7 / l0 000 habitants) reported in the year 2000, were the lowest in history. Cuban population’s Life Expectancy is 75,5 years. All childs, in early life, are immunized against twelve preventable diseases with vaccines: poliomyelitis, diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, tuberculosis, typhoid fever, smallpox, rubella, mumps, B and C meningitis and B hepatitis.

There are 5.6 beds for medical care and 1.3 beds of social care per each 1000 habitants in the country. Almost all the population is well fared with services of the Plan of The Family Doctor a newly developed form of Medical Care. 

During the year 2000 were performed 886 887 surgeries and was revitalized the Program of Organs’ Transplants.

Encouraging results are collected with the methods of the Cuban medicine for AIDS’s Control and Prevention. The disease incidence in the country rates 0,034 percent, very low when compared with other nations. This is the result of a new strategy that combines sexual education with ambulatory and sanitary treatments that achieve in seropositives patients a delay in the disease progress and a better life-quality status. Cuban researchers work in an recombinant vaccine for AIDS’s prevention.

In Cuba are produced new drugs and vaccines, some of them unique on his kind in the world. It’s highly valuated the quality and demand of them worldwide.

It’s also remarkable the institutional net developed for Health’s Tourism. In the year 2000 6000 visitors and patients came to the island with this purpose. Furthermore, 30 000 tourists visit our country seeking solution to several health problems of variety nature.