When it comes to field of preventative medicine, the Republic of Cuba has a very clear vision. Disease prevention and early intervention are the fundamental factors in disease management and the success rate of each therapy. Global evidence-based medicine strongly promotes regular checkups and screenings in order to detect the health issue in a timely manner. This is what Cuba already implemented in the system of primary healthcare.
Regular medical checkup represents the basis of disease prevention and early disease detection, which allows treatment initiation in a timely manner thereby ensuring treatment efficacy. Cuba offers a set of various clinical investigations and screenings specifically tailored to detect the disease in its early stages. The early-stage disorder is much simpler to manage, and some of the most serious and challenging medical conditions, such as cancer, are completely curable if detected in in a timely manner.
Each medical checkup is guaranteed to be performed with the highest standards, ensuring that the results are obtained rapidly and without prolonged waiting period.
Executive medical checkup
The executive medical checkup program consists of several phases. In the initial phase, the consultation with the specialist of internal medicine will be performed in order to gather the data regarding the overall health status and perform basic clinical assessments. Following consultation with the internal medicine specialist, the individual undergoes a series of laboratory investigations. These include complete blood count, sedimentation rate, blood glucose level, serum urea and creatinine, uric acid test, lipid profile, liver function tests, oral glucose tolerance test, coagulation panel, serology investigations etc. The program offers imaging studies including chest X-ray, as well as breast ultrasound and mammography for women. An electrocardiogram is also performed and interpreted. The dental checkup is also a standard part of the evaluation program. Once the investigations are complete, a final consultation with the internal medicine specialist is performed where the individual receives the comprehensive evaluation of the current health status as well as recommendations regarding the future treatment if necessary.
Comprehensive medical checkup
This program offers detailed and comprehensive overall health evaluation, where the expert physicians assess and evaluate the true state of health including the dental diagnosis as well. The consultations are performed with the internal medicine specialist, ophthalmology specialist, and general surgeons. The investigation phase is similar to that mentioned above, with the addition of abdominal ultrasound, and prostate ultrasound for men. The laboratory panel is broadened with the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) measurement and stool test.
Checkup intended for the elderly
This program is intended for the elderly or individuals suffering from high blood pressure or any cardiovascular disorder. The evaluation phase consists of a consultation with the internal medicine specialist as well as re-consultation once the investigations are completed. Laboratory panel is identical to that mentioned above and imaging studies include chest X-ray, plain radiographs of the spine in two directions, as well as the abdominal ultrasound examination and prostate ultrasound for men, while the breast ultrasound and mammography are performed for women. The dental exam is also the standard part of the program. This specific checkup contains the neuropsychological assessment.
Cardiovascular and hypertensive checkups
The program is focused on the assessment of the status of the cardiovascular system and the estimation of the risk of the development of the serious cardiovascular condition. The evaluation phase consists of the consultation with an expert cardiologist as well as the re-consultation with the cardiologist once all the investigations are performed. Besides the standard laboratory panel, a set of specific heart evaluation studies is performed such as electrocardiogram, tele-cardiogram, ergometric stress test as well as the Doppler echocardiography. The hypertensive checkup program includes bilateral renal ultrasound, along with ultrasound of the adrenal glands besides the ultrasonographic doppler assessment of the heart. The evaluation phase consists of the consultation and re-consultation with the internal medicine specialist.
Toco-gynecological checkup and checkup for perimenopausal and menopausal women
The program is intended for women of the childbearing age or older. It focuses on the evaluation of risk factors for the development of serious gynecological conditions such as various types of cancer. The evaluation phase consists of the consultation and re-consultation with the expert gynecologist. Standard laboratory panel is performed as described above, including specific assessments such as gynecological ultrasound, breast ultrasound mammography, Pap smear, colposcopy, and simple vaginal discharge study. Standard laboratory panel is broadened to the measurements of the level of thyroid hormones in the serum. The checkup for perimenopausal and menopausal women additionally contains bone densitometry.
Pediatric checkup
Cuba offers two programs with pediatric evaluation: for children between 2 and 12 years, as well as for the children under the age of 2. Each program is specifically tailored to offer assessments that are specific to the child’s age.
The program for the children under the age of 2 contains the evaluation of health status performed by a pediatrician, ENT specialist and psychology specialist. Standard laboratory panel is performed as well as specific investigations including electrocardiogram, plain chest radiograph, abdomen ultrasound, ENT specific tests as well as the dental checkup. Once the investigations are completed, re-consultation is performed with the pediatrician.
The program for children between 2 and 12 years contains the consultation with the same specialized experts with the inclusion of specific psychological tests such as Terman, Bender and Wise psychological studies. The laboratory and specific investigations are the same as for children under the age of 2.
Osteoporosis evaluation
Osteoporosis evaluation differs between sexes. Men undergo evaluations performed by osteoporosis specialist, endocrinologist, orthopedic surgeons. Standard laboratory panel is broadened with the measurement of thyroid hormone levels in the serum. Electrocardiogram, chest X-ray, bone study and ultrasound bone densitometry are performed with the addition of dental exam. Women undergo additional investigations such as Pap smear, colposcopy, vaginal discharge testing, transvaginal ultrasound, breast ultrasound, and mammography.