Cuba: The procedure for obtaining a medical report; whether there is a standard form at the national level; whether doctors are required to report serious injuries or injuries sustained as a result of a crime
Information on whether there is a uniform procedure at the national level to obtain a copy of a medical report was not found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate. However, the procedure for obtaining a copy of a medical report from one of the private clinics in Cuba is as follows:
In a telephone interview with the Research Directorate, a doctor from the Cira García Central Clinic (Clínica Central Cira García), located in Havana, indicated that a person in the country can obtain a copy of a medical report from a consultation with a doctor (Clínica Central Cira García 9 Jan. 2012). To do so, the person must send an e-mail to faculta@cirag.cu and include the following information in their message: their full name, the number of their identity card, the date of the consultation, the doctor’s specialty and the information the person wants to obtain (ibid.). With regard to the time, the doctor stated that, in emergency cases, the copy is sent [translation] “immediately” to the person (the patient) or to their insurance company if the latter has authorization from the patient (ibid.). In a case of consultation with a specialist, it takes two or three days to obtain the copy of the medical report (ibid.). According to the doctor, a fee of 25 Cuban convertible pesos [C$25.61 (XE 9 Jan. 2012)] is required (Clínica Central Cira García 9 Jan. 2012).
The doctor also noted that the procedure is the same for a person outside the country (ibid.). However, she could not confirm whether a third person can obtain a copy of a medical report (ibid.). Information on the possibility of a third person obtaining a copy of a medical report could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.
With regard to whether doctors are required to report any serious injuries or injuries sustained as a result of a crime to the authorities, the doctor stated that [translation] “it is mandatory” and that, at the Cira García Central Clinic, a person from the help desk is responsible for handling complaints (Clínica Central Cira García 9 Jan. 2012).
The doctor also noted that a standard form is used to describe a patient’s medical history (ibid.). The form contains the following information: the patient’s name, address and telephone number, their medical history, tests performed and treatments given, physical examination, the reason for the consultation, and the diagnosis given (ibid.).
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Please find below the list of sources consulted in researching this Information Request.
References
Clínica Central Cira García. 9 January 2012. Telephone interview with a doctor.
XE. 9 January 2012. “Currency Converter Widget.” <http://www.xe.com/ucc/convert/?Amount=25&From=CUC&To=CAD> [Accessed 9 Jan. 2012]
Additional Sources Consulted
Oral sources: Attempts to contact representatives of the following organizations were unsuccessful: Associación Médica del Caribe; Bufete Internacional; Bufete de Servicios Especializados; Centro Nacional de Información en Ciencias Médicas; Consultoría Jurídica Internacional; Escuela Nacional de Salud Pública; Hospital Clínico Quirúrgico “Hermanos Ameijeiras;” Hospital Rural; Hospital Rural Antonio Guiteras de Cayo Ramona; Hospital Rural Isidro de Armas; Hospital Rural J. Rodríguez Barreto; Hospital Rural Juan Navarro; Hospital Rural Pedro Betancourt; Hospital Rural Teniente Juan Hernández; Hospital Universitario Vladimir Ilich Lenin; Instituto Nacional de Seguridad Social; Instituto Superior de Ciencias Medicas de Havana; La Habana – Dirección Municipal de Salud, Dirección Provincial de Salud, Ministerio de Salud Pública; Organisation mondiale de la santé à Cuba; Policlínico Docente Mártires del Corynthia; Policlínico Plaza de la Revolución; Policlínico Universitario 19 de Abril; Policlínico Universitario Puentes Grandes; Policlínico Universitario Rampa; Policlínico Vedado; Sociedad Cubana de Neurología y Neurocirugía. A representative of the Embassy of Cuba in Ottawa was unable to provide any information.
Internet sites, including: Centro Nacional de Información en Ciencias Médicas; Embassy of Cuba in Ottawa; Hospital General Universitario; Hospital Universitario General Calixto García; Policlínico Docente Enrique Betancourt Neninger; Policlínico Universitario Rampa; Revistas Médicas Cubanas.