The United Nations' Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) states that every human being is entitled to live a life at a standard that can afford him and his family basic social services like medical care.

Countries across the globe declare access to healthcare as a fundamental right of each and every one of their citizens. But, the distressing condition of most healthcare systems in many countries today suggests that the acknowledgment of this basic right is mere lip service.

While many of these countries have been abnegating their citizens of this right, there are those who have been true to their word and take their healthcare systems very seriously. Cuba is one such country that offers an all-encompassing medical coverage for its people as opposed to a profit-driven healthcare system in some countries like the United States.

Outstanding Healthcare System in Cuba

Cuba's doctor-to-patient ratio is one of the best in the world, despite being one of the poorer countries. For every 150 Cubans, there will be one doctor that attends to them. This is one of the major reasons why it's not surprising Cuba's life expectancy is close to that of the United States and that the Latin American country's infant mortality is, in fact, better than its North American counterpart.

Even more, there is a stark disparity between the economy of the two countries. Cubans only spend a little over $1,800 on healthcare per capita annually, while the United States spends more than $8,300.

The Cuban healthcare system gives premium to prevention rather than cure. Doctors see to it that they are familiar with the health status of people within their community.

"Pretty much every little community, almost every other block, has what we call a 'consultorio médico,' which is composed of one doctor and one nurse that specifically works with that community. That doctor lives in that community, so that doctor knows every single person that lives in that community," said Abraham Bela, who studies medicine in Cuba.

"Instead of medicine being a business or every patient being potential profit, it was actually something designed to help," added Kimberly Gutowski, another American student.

American Students Study Medicine in Cuba for Free

Bela and Gutowski are both Americans who are studying medicine at the Latin American Medical School in Cuba. They are under the full scholarship program from Interreligious Foundation for Community Organization (IFCO).

While most medical students in the United States would go on to incur huge student loans after graduation, American students in Cuba are given the chance to pursue their dreams to be a doctor for free. They come from some of the neediest places in the United States and are bound to practice and render their services back to some of these marginalized communities in their own country.

For those interested, you can check out the admission requirements here.

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