In recent years, Cuba has earned the status of a medical power. Among the achievements meriting such prestige is the existence of specialized health centers using the most up-to-date equipment, well-trained personnel and dedicated specialists at the forefront of their fields throughout Latin America.

Cuba manufactures magnetic imaging equipment, considered one of the five most complex medical diagnosis techniques in the contemporary world. It has also developed an innovative surgical technique, known as dorsolateral subthalamotomy, to fight Parkinson's disease.

The island also produces unique medications such as Dermofural, against the pitiriasis, pyodermitis and cutaneous candidiasis, as well as the meningitis vaccine; manufactures Fototer, a laser equipment used in phototherapy; carries out organ transplants; and has treatments for vitiligo and retinitis pigmentosa (night blindness).

These products and techniques are widely employed on the island, but fundamentally they are designed or used in a group of national institutions such as Hermanos Ameijeiras Hospital and Cira García Clinic, Frank País Orthopedic Hospital, the Retinitis Pigmentosa Center and the Institutes of Cardiology, Oncology, Neurology, Endocrinology, Angiology, Nephrology, Hematology, Tropical Medicine and Occupational Health. They are linked to the Cuban health care network and have a total of 2,945 beds.

These centers, together with rest of the Cuban health system, contribute to the country's achievement of health indicators that place it in the same category as the world's most developed nations in the prevention and cure of illnesses, as well as in attention to the population, and these services are provided free of charge to the Cuban population, which is very rare in today's world.

These institutions have renowned scientists among their personnel, such as Dr. Rodrigo Álvarez Cambras, professor emeritus and holder of dozens of university degrees, the author of medical books published in several languages, the director of Frank País Orthopedic Hospital and the creator of the RALCA external fixator. He has performed surgery on numerous world figures in the arts, sports and politics, among them eight heads of state.

Another prestigious Cuban scientist is the recently deceased Dr. Orfilio Peláez, creator of a unique therapeutic system effective in the control and cure of retinitis pigmentosa, a chronic, hereditary and degenerative disease that attacks the 0.5 % of the world population and which can result in total blindness.

Among the other national centers are the AIDS sanatoriums located in Santiago de las Vegas, in the city of Havana (with 300 beds); and Nazareno, San José de las Lajas, Habana province (with 105 beds).

There is an enormous network of scientific institutions affiliated with the Ministry of Public Health and other Cuban agencies that work intensely to develop new testing, therapeutic and surgical techniques, as well as vaccines, reagents and medications. They have made an invaluable contribution to the development of Cuban and international medicine.

They include:

National Immunoassay Center
Medical and Surgical Research Center (CIMEQ)
Ophthalmologic Microsurgery Center (MCO)
Placental Histotherapy Center
Finlay Institute
National Center for Applied Electromagnetism
National Toxicology Center
Central Institute of Digital Research
Clinical Research Center
Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology Center
Ozone Research Center
National Scientific Investigation Center
Sports Medicine Institute
Institute of Tropical Medicine
Institute of Legal Medicine
Institute of Nutrition and Food Hygiene
Institute of Higiene

(Taken from: Cubasí)