Health care and Clinic | Holguin, Cuba

Medical services in Holguin resort areas

The Cuban health care system has a very good reputation and is more advanced than many other countries in Latin America. It often serves as a model for developing nations around the world. Although some medicine or equipment are not always available, Cuban doctors are highly qualified and the care and treatments are comparable, and sometimes even better, than the ones received in more developed and wealthier countries.

Cuba operates a special division or international clinics for paying foreign clients, with English-speaking doctors and better supplies and equipment. They are called Clinicas del Sol and are part of the SMC network (Servicios Medicos Cubanos). The cost for a consultation or treatment is very low compare to a private clinic in North-America or Europe. In recent years, Medical Tourism greatly increased in popularity; thousands of Health Tourists travel to Cuba each year.

There's one of these international clinics in Holguin's resort areas, it's located in the tourist town of Guardalavaca, adjacent to the Centro Comercial Las Flamboyanes. See here a map of Guardalavaca. This clinic also operates mini-clinics (first-aid) inside most of the all-inclusive resorts.

Guardalavaca International Clinic and Pharmacy
Address: Calle Segunda no. 15, Guardalavaca, Municipio Banes, Holguin, Cuba
Phone: (53 24) 43 0102 / 43 0312 / 43 0393
Email - Clinic: director.medico@clinica.gvc.tur.cu
Email - Pharmacy: farmacia@clinica.gvc.tur.cu
Website: www.holguin.smcsalud.cu/

Their services include, among others: Medical consultation, emergencies, medical imaging (X-rays, ultrasounds), ambulance service, etc. They have doctors on-call 24/7. If you need to see a doctor for an emergency, you can call your hotel's front desk and a doctor will come to your room, or, you'll be sent to the clinic directly (depending on the care required). Ambulance service is available for emergency, or you can take a taxi to get to the clinic.

For severe injuries or illness that cannot be treated in the Guardalavaca Clinic, the patients are brought in ambulance to an Holguin City Hospital (about 1 hour from Guardalavaca).

Note that health services are never part of your All-Inclusive package. Don't forget to contact the Travel Assistance service of your insurance company as soon as possible to advise them of the situation, even if it's a minor illness or small injury.

MANDATORY Health-Insurance and Asistur

Since May 1st 2010, all foreigners who travel to Cuba must be covered by a travel insurance that includes a medical care benefit. Upon arrival travelers may be required to present a proof of medical coverage valid for the entire period of their stay in Cuba; in the form of an insurance policy, medical assistance card, insurance certificate, etc. If you enter Cuba without medical insurance, you'll have to purchase a health insurance plan with the Cuban travelers aid company called ASISTUR S.A. (www.asistur.cu) at the point of entry; they have an office in every Cuban airport.