Cuba operates a dual-tier healthcare system. Cuban nationals access the national health system without charge. Foreign visitors must use international clinics or designated hospital sections that require payment in convertible currency. Havana maintains the highest concentration of facilities equipped for international patients, including Clínica Central Cira García in the Miramar neighborhood, which operates 24 hours with specialists across disciplines. Santiago de Cuba has Clínica Internacional Cubanacán. Varadero maintains Clínica Internacional, located on Avenida Primera between Calles 61 and 62. These facilities stock imported pharmaceuticals and maintain equipment comparable to regional Latin American standards, though availability varies based on supply chain constraints linked to the US embargo and Cuba's import capacity. Outside these designated facilities, pharmacies frequently experience shortages of basic medications including antibiotics, pain relievers, and chronic disease medications. Travelers requiring specific prescription medications should bring complete supply from origin countries with original packaging and prescriptions translated into Spanish. Cuban customs permits entry of medications for personal use accompanied by prescription documentation. The national ambulance service 104 responds to emergencies but prioritizes cases for Cuban nationals and transport to national hospitals, not international clinics. Private ambulance services coordinated through international clinics provide faster response for foreign patients at rates typically between 50 to 100 CUC per transport within urban areas. Dialysis services exist in Havana, Santiago de Cuba, and other provincial capitals but capacity remains limited and advance coordination through diplomatic channels advisable for travelers requiring regular dialysis. Dental emergencies can be addressed at Clínica Dental CIREN in Havana's Siboney neighborhood, which maintains equipment for extractions, root canals, and temporary crown work. Medical evacuation coverage through travel insurance becomes critical given limited capacity for complex trauma, cardiac events requiring catheterization, or neurological emergencies requiring advanced imaging beyond basic CT scans. Air ambulance flights to Miami take approximately 90 minutes when authorized, though US regulations require specific licensing for flights from Cuba.
Blood supplies in Cuba undergo screening for HIV, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C according to Pan American Health Organization protocols, though travelers with rare blood types should verify availability before elective procedures. The national blood bank Banco de Sangre Nacional coordinates supply, but shortages occur. Type O negative blood, present in only about 5 percent of Cuba's population compared to 7 percent globally, experiences frequent shortfall. Travelers planning surgeries or high-risk activities should confirm blood availability with treating facilities minimum two weeks prior. Hyperbaric oxygen chambers exist at Centro de Investigaciones y Servicios Ambientales y Tecnológicos in Havana and at facilities in Varadero and María la Gorda, primarily serving diving accidents in waters around Jardines de la Reina, Cayo Largo del Sur, and Isla de la Juventud. Response time from remote diving locations to chamber facilities can exceed four hours, making dive insurance with evacuation coverage essential. Decompression sickness cases from the Bay of Pigs diving sites reach Havana chambers faster due to proximity, typically within two hours. Mental health crisis resources for foreign visitors remain extremely limited. Psychiatric facilities focus on Cuban nationals and lack English-speaking staff outside Hospital Psiquiátrico de La Habana. Embassy or consular officials provide referral for mental health emergencies requiring evacuation. Veterinary services exist in major cities for travelers with service animals. Clínica Veterinaria Centro Habana on Calle Consulado provides emergency care, though availability of specialized medications for chronic conditions in animals remains sporadic. Bring complete veterinary records and medication supplies when traveling with animals.
Pregnancy-related medical care for foreign visitors centers on Hospital Gineco-Obstétrico Ramón González Coro in Havana, which maintains maternal-fetal medicine specialists. Facilities in provincial cities provide basic obstetric care but lack neonatal intensive care units capable of supporting premature infants before 32 weeks gestation. Pregnant travelers beyond 36 weeks generally face airline restrictions on travel to Cuba. Prenatal records should be translated into Spanish and carried in hand luggage. Cuba maintains low maternal mortality rates, recorded at 36 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2020 according to World Health Organization data, though these figures reflect outcomes in the national system rather than facilities serving international patients. For travelers requiring ongoing specialized care for conditions including cancer treatment, organ transplant management, or complex autoimmune diseases, consultation with treating physicians regarding feasibility of travel to Cuba should occur before booking. Chemotherapy protocols may differ from those in origin countries, and immunosuppressant medications may be unavailable. Medical tourism exists in Cuba, particularly for treatments including vitiligo therapy at Centro de Histoterapia Placentaria, orthopedic procedures, and eye surgeries, but these services target planned procedures rather than emergency intervention. Payment for medical services requires cash in euros or Canadian dollars at most facilities, as US-issued credit and debit cards do not function due to embargo restrictions. Carry sufficient cash reserves separate from daily spending money to cover potential medical costs, with serious emergencies easily reaching 5,000 to 10,000 euros.
Cuba's telecommunications infrastructure operates under ETECSA, the state monopoly controlling internet, mobile, and landline services. Mobile coverage reaches approximately 95 percent of the population according to 2022 ETECSA data, with 4G LTE available in Havana, Santiago de Cuba, Varadero, Trinidad, and other major tourism destinations. 3G remains standard in rural areas, and portions of the Sierra Maestra, Guanahacabibes Peninsula, and remote sections of Pinar del Río province lack mobile signals entirely. US mobile carriers do not provide roaming in Cuba due to embargo restrictions. Sprint discontinued its unique roaming agreement that existed until 2020. Travelers with unlocked phones can purchase ETECSA SIM cards, branded as Cubacel, at ETECSA offices in international airports immediately after customs clearance, at dedicated ETECSA shops in city centers, and at some hotels. Activation requires passport presentation and payment in convertible currency. Prepaid plans in 2024 cost approximately 10 CUC for the SIM card activation, with data packages priced at 1 CUC per 100 megabytes, 7 CUC per gigabyte, or 20 CUC for 4 gigabytes valid 30 days. Voice calls within Cuba cost 0.09 CUC per minute, international calls to most countries run 1.40 CUC per minute, though rates to the United States reach 2 CUC per minute. Data speeds on 4G LTE networks in Havana typically measure between 2 to 8 megabps download during testing by OpenSignal in 2023, slower than regional averages but sufficient for messaging apps, email, and map applications. Network congestion occurs during peak evening hours between 19:00 and 22:00 when speeds can drop below 1 megabps.
Public WiFi hotspots marked by crowds of people staring at phones cluster in parks and plazas throughout Cuban cities. ETECSA operates approximately 1,400 WiFi zones nationally, identified by the name WIFI_ETECSA in network listings. Access requires purchasing internet cards from ETECSA offices, hotels, or authorized resellers. Cards come in 1-hour denominations costing 1 CUC or 5-hour cards for 5 CUC in 2024. Each card contains a unique username and password scratched off like a lottery ticket. Connection speed at public hotspots varies dramatically by location and time, with Parque Central in Havana and Parque Vidal in Santa Clara experiencing severe congestion. Login sessions expire exactly at the purchased time increment, and unused minutes remain on the card for future sessions until card expiration, typically 12 months from purchase date. Hotel WiFi exists at properties approved for foreign tourists, generally three-star rated and above. Connection typically remains free for guests in international hotel chains including Meliá, Iberostar, and Barceló properties, though domestic hotels often charge 2 to 6 CUC per hour. Speed and reliability vary significantly, with newer properties in Varadero and Cayo Coco offering more consistent service than historic Havana hotels where infrastructure limitations constrain bandwidth. Business centers at hotels like Hotel Nacional de Cuba and Meliá Cohiba provide desktop computer access at rates around 5 to 8 CUC per hour when personal devices fail.