Cuban Strike

The medical insurance system of Cuba's mutual benefit clubs last week forced the National Medical Federation of Cuba to call a strike. The clubs, or centres--notably the Galician Centre and the Asturian Centre each with about 100,000 members --are among Cuba's richest institutions. Tourists often mistake the ornate Asturian clubhouse near the new Capitol Building for President Machado's palace which is several blocks away.

Club members pay monthly dues of from $1 to $3.50. For $1 an individual member is assured full medical attention. The $3.50 takes care of an entire family. There are two great divisions among the clubs--the Spanish and the Cuban. The Cuban are strictly mutual benefit societies, admit only those who cannot afford to pay for private attention. The Spanish clubs maintain great social halls and schools. They resemble U. S. fraternal societies like the Moose (see p. 13).

Last week the medical men decided altogether too many club members were applying for sick benefits. They dared not denounce the club insurance system which has become a vested interest in Cuban affairs. But club members might be challenged with little risk of reprisal. Every member, declared the doctors, who can afford to do so should make private calls on his physician and not sponge on the clinics.

The Spanish clubs demurred. Dr. Ricardo Nunez Portuondo, president of the Cuban Medical Delegation, pleaded in vain. Last week 500 doctors went on strike against the Spanish club clinics. Minister of the Interior Octavio Zubizarreta ordered doctors employed by the Department of Health to man the practically deserted clinics.

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