Cuba

Reliable data on the healthcare situation in Cuba is hard to come by. The country operates a state monopoly on healthcare provision, and the private sector is forbidden from operating. With the exception of San Marino, Cuba has the highest number of doctors per capita in the world, with 6 for every thousand people. However, physician salaries are low, at around $15 a month.

The health system suffers from poor quality hospitals, a lack of equipment and frequent stockouts of essential drugs.

Cuba has a significant domestic pharmaceutical manufacturing industry, with the majority of active ingredients imported from China. Most medicines consumed in Cuba are locally made.

Although import tariffs are low (at around 1%), the reality of importing into Cuba is extremely difficult: goods can only be imported by government entities and joint ventures holding permits for the goods in question. Permits for good are notoriously difficult to obtain.