The collapse surprised patients and relatives while they were sleeping and revived complaints about the precariousness of Cuban hospitals.
MADRID, Spain.- A section of the ceiling of the Upper Clinical Room of the Calixto García Hospital, in Havana, collapsed on the morning of this Wednesday, November 12, causing fear among the patients and relatives who remained hospitalized. This is what he reported Martí Newsciting the testimony of a person present at the scene.
According to that source, the incident occurred while many were sleeping. The roof and part of the upper floor gave way, exposing visible rods and pipes, he said on condition of anonymity.
The witness also described the “lack of lighting and the deterioration of walls and ceilings,” in addition to serious hygiene deficiencies that, he assured, are common in the hospital.
The images published by Martí News They show the collapse of the false ceiling and the visible damage to the structure, a reflection of the deep crisis that affects the Cuban health system. In addition to the immediate danger, the situation shows the lack of maintenance, the scarcity of resources and the progressive deterioration of health centers throughout the country.
The Calixto García hospital, one of the oldest and most emblematic medical centers in Havana, has suffered serious structural deterioration and material deficiencies for years.
In August 2021, For example, a part of the ceiling came off and fell directly onto a patient’s bed. Two years later, in June 2023, the false ceiling of the postoperative room collapsed, causing panic among the admitted patients. The incident forced several of them to leave their beds due to the risk of new fragments falling off.
This recent collapse joins a long list of similar accidents in hospitals throughout the country, where institutional abandonment and lack of public investment continue to deteriorate the conditions in which the Cuban population is cared for.
