Healthy in Cuba, Sick in America?

[El Presidente]

Healthy in Cuba, Sick in America?

John Stossel Takes on Michael Moore, Examines Government-Run Health Care

By MELISSA SCOTT

Sept. 7, 2007

“Which way to Guantanamo Bay?!”

Anyone who’s seen Michael Moore’s film “Sicko” will recall the scene in which he shouts with a bullhorn as his boat takes a group of people, including Sept. 11 workers, to Guantanamo Bay in Cuba, where he says prisoners get better health care than Americans.

After the manned gun towers blow horns at Moore’s boat, he takes the group to Havana, where his movie says socialized medicine — government-run medicine — is great for everyone. When Moore’s group arrives in Havana, they are taken to a special section of a large showcase hospital.

Moore says in the film, “I asked [the Havana hospital] to give us the same exact care they give their fellow Cuban citizens. No more, no less. And that’s what they did.”

The Debate

Moore sat down with “20/20’s” John Stossel and talked about that claim. When asked whether it really was an average hospital, Moore said, “Yes.”

“This isn’t just me saying this, you know. All the world health organizations or whatever have confirmed that if there’s one thing they do right in Cuba, it’s health care,” Moore said. “And there’s very little debate about that.”

In fact, there is plenty of debate. Miami-based Cuban Human Rights activist Jose Carro says Moore’s movie paints an inaccurate picture.

“These films that try to portray the health-care system as superior to that of the U.S. are lacking in truth,” Carro said. He asserts that most hospitals for Cuban citizens are dilapidated, that conditions are filthy and that patients are so neglected that some are starving.

George Utset, who runs the anti-Castro Web site called therealcuba.com, says Moore’s group didn’t “go to the hospital for regular Cubans. They go to the hospital for the elite and it’s [a] very different condition.”

Darsi Ferrer, a human rights advocate in Cuba, issued an SOS via telephone, wanting the world to know that ordinary Cubans are “crazy with desperation” over the horrendous state of their health care.

Questioning the Numbers

Moore says that because Cubans get such good health care, they live longer and it is true that a U.N. report claims that they live nearly two months longer. But the United Nations didn’t gather any data, said Carro.

“The United Nations simply reports whatever the government in Cuba reports, so that we have no objective way to know what the real statistics are,” he said.

Although Cuba claims to have low infant mortality rates, doctors have said the data is misleading because when there might be indications of problems with the fetus, there is a widespread practice of forced abortions.

Julio Alfonso said, “I personally used to do 70 to 80 abortions a day.” Yanet Sanchez, a Cuban exile, said she was simply told to submit to an abortion. “They told me I should end the pregnancy,” said Sanchez. “It was my very first pregnancy. I wanted to have the child.”

Other doctors have said that if a child dies a few hours after birth, they don’t count it as ever having lived, which ultimately makes infant mortality in Cuba look better than that of the United States.

“It changes the number, even though the same number of children may be dying or more,” said Carro.

Long Life?

Moore disagrees. “All the independent health organizations in the world, and even our own CIA, believes that the Cubans have a pretty good health system. And they do, in fact, live longer than we do,” he said.

But when “20/20” contacted the CIA, officials said, “We don’t say that Cuba has a pretty good system or that Cubans live longer than Americans.”

In fact, the CIA’s World Fact Book says Americans live nearly a year longer. Although a U.N. report supports Moore’s position, that data comes straight from the Cuban government.

Why believe anything the Cuban government says about Cuba? Moore said, “Let’s stick to Canada and Britain and this stuff because I think these are legitimate arguments that are made against the film and against the, the so-called idea of socialized medicine. And I think you should challenge me on these things, and I’ll give you my answer.”

You can see the video at: http://youtube.com/watch?v=-cnkXIF2TOw

20/20 will devote the entire hour next week to the issue of healthcare. I hope they revisit this debate and show more of it.

I am glad that someone in mainstream media is finally shedding light on the reality of Cuba, and they can see past the smoke and mirrors that the Cuban government has been putting up for 48 years. I hope they bring it out in the open even more next week.

[Guest Warren]

Ah yes the wonderful Mr Moore. I suppose in the beginning he started out with good intent. I have to agree that the US could do a few things better , but couldn't we all. I think Mr. Moore has been pushing his own barrow all the way down the path in his own back yard for a while now. Perhaps he should count his lucky stars that he was born in a country that allows him to say these things. Lets face it he hasn't disappeared with out trace as he would in some countries, Cuba for one.

Sure he's entertaining but maybe he should put his money where his mouth is and run for office.

I think it's time we all stopped bashing America and thank them for having the muscle to help out it's neighbours , and along the way perhaps we can help them work out a few things.

[smokum]

» I think it's time we all stopped bashing America and thank them for having

» the muscle to help out it's neighbours , and along the way perhaps we can

» help them work out a few things.

Wow...well said.

[GoSteelers]

Are you saying Michael Moore lied to his flock!?!?!?

[jwm8592]

I'm sorry but M. Moore is so full of **** it makes me sick!! Cuba has a medical clinic on every corner, give me a break. This guy is so far left its amazing so many listen or believe a word he says. I guess it goes to show how confused alot of American's really are, I mean we do get it (bullshit) from all angles. The White House, politicians right & left, the media, actors and the like, etc... If M. Moore had to fight just one day of his life for "free speech", than maybe you could stomach his crap a little. But look at that fat-ass, the only battle he has is pushing away from the table on a daily basis, and he's LOOSING!!

[Tampa1257]

Has Mr. Moore ever told a story that was in fact, factual? Other than what is in his own twisted mind? NO

For him to believe that what he experienced in Cuba was in any way like what the citizens experience is pure fantasy Island."De Plane boss, de Plane", no TaToo that is Michael Moore, the Fat Ass Blimp with the swollen head......................

[Taino]

I work in the health care (HC) industry and I have very good friends in Cuba. Having traveled several times to the island and having first hand info I think I understand more less how good/bad is HC there.

To make a long and complex story short I think they have good quality professionals with very very little resources. What can you do if you have the best specialist in the world for a certain type of cancer, good number of beds in hospitals but almost no medicines, medicines of dubious quality and scarce technical resources? very very little.

I have a cigar friend who supports a cuban foundation for childs with leukemia, the main problem that they have are medicines.

Our company supports some HC organizations in the island, with technology and medicines. Don't think high tech stuff, they don't have computers.

An enormous amount of needs, and extremely basic needs. So how is HC in the island? for the average Cuban: I would say anything but good. For Maradona or Moore? whatever...

[Sandman]

This is not surprising at all. Unfortunately, this piece of **** lives about 15 minutes away from me.

[IShotAManInReno]

It is an excellent film regardless of what you think about the director.

I highly recommend that you see it for yourself before passing judgement.