Health in Cuba and medical insurance

Find out how the health system works in Cuba and what to do and where to go if you need it.

Health in Cuba
© Hear and Their

Cuba's health system is considered one of the best health systems in all of Central America.

In Cuba you will find a health system created especially for tourists called Servimed, this system is totally independent of the health system used by Cubans.

You will be able to find more than 40 specialized centers spread throughout the country, in which in addition to offering you basic health services, they will also offer you areas in which you can treat different aspects, since each one is specialized in a certain branch of the medicine and high-tech services.

Mandatory medical insurance to enter Cuba:

One aspect that you must comply with to enter Cuba is the contracting of private medical insurance, therefore you will have more than guaranteed your medical attention in case it is necessary. Without this insurance that you must present at customs before entering Cuba, they will not allow you to enter.

In the event that upon your arrival in Cuba you do not have this insurance policy, you will be forced to contract one with the state insurance company Asistur.

If you are staying in a hotel and require medical attention, the fastest way to access a doctor is to notify your insurance and in turn at reception or the hotel manager, once the problem is known, you will be transferred to one of the many Servimed centers in which you do not need an appointment to be treated.

In case you present a state of emergency and you have to go to a Cuban health center there, they will offer you free emergency treatment, but this is something that should be used as a last resort.

The main problems that can be found is the so-called traveler's diarrhea, which is a gastroenteritis caused by endemic bacteria in local water.

To avoid this problem you just have to follow some guidelines:

Ingest probiotics to strengthen the intestinal flora.
Do not eat raw food.
Do not eat vegetables or fruits without first removing the skin.
Avoid eating food purchased from street or street stalls.
Avoid dishes whose ingredients include raw, undercooked eggs, sauces or mayonnaise.
Always consume a bottled or packaged drink, avoid drinking water directly from the taps.

Servimed, apart from offering hospitals only for foreigners, also offers pharmacies for them, but it must be remembered that in Cuba many of the pharmacies are not supplied with a wide range of medicines, therefore if you are taking a medicine periodically you should take it from your place of origin.

What FAQ and info should I check before travelling to Cuba?

Why "Cuban Travel Agency"?

"Cuban Travel Agency" is part of the Visitar Cuba project, an organization of Cuban agencies whose objectives are:

✓ Disseminate Cuba, its culture and its heritage.
✓ Promote sustainable tourism.
✓ Support the local economy, prioritizing direct contact with Cuban agencies.
✓ Offer budgets without commitment and without cost, from the hand of Cuban experts.

Ask for your estimate

Travel agencies and Tour Operators

If you are an agency or tour operator and you are looking for help to create trips to Cuba, trust our expert hands, we offer special prices.

Special prices for Travel Agencies and Tour Operators