Cuba presents the most attractive opportunities for the US medical tourists. Besides quality healthcare services, lower costs, and availability of competent and experienced doctors, you can expect a pleasant environment in the Cuban hospitals and clinics, which ensure that any US medical tourist can enjoy a peaceful and rejuvenating medical vacation in Cuba.

The medical tourism product in Cuba has evolved over the last four decades. In 2005, there were 70,594 doctors, 21 medical schools, 14,078 medical clinics, 470 polyclinics, 255 hospitals, 13 medical research institutions and 165 stomatology clinics for the treatment of diseases of the mouth. The country currently collaborates with more than 80,000 institutions in 97 countries in the field of medicine.

Cuba’s medical tourism products and services are disseminated by Cubanacan Tourism and Health, which provided care for a total of 19,670 tourist patients in 2006. As stated by President Fidel Castro Ruz, Cubanacan is based on the principle that “every person and every nation has the right to a healthy life and to enjoy the privilege of a prolonged and useful existence,” and “Cubanacan Tourism and Health places at the disposal of all interested persons anywhere in the world, the advancements of the Cuban health system.”

Although the government of Cuba permits U.S. citizens to visit, the U.S. itself restricts its citizens from travelling there, except with a license issued by the Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control. The specific restriction is against spending money in Cuba, however U.S. authorities consider any visit of more than one day to be prima facie proof that one has spent money there.

Listed below are some of the advantages of traveling to Cuba to seek medical services:

• Quality Health Care - the Cuban healthcare system is considered among the best found in international medical tourism destinations, medical care in Cuba is reliable, with the Cuban doctors, dentists and surgeons being very reputable and reliable.
  
  
• Low Cost Options - Cheaper medical procedures available is one of the major reasons for the increasing influx of American health tourists seeking medical treatments in Cuba. Medical procedures in Cuba typically cost less than one fourth or even lesser compared to what they would in the US.
  
  
• Unique medical treatment for retinitis pigmentosa (night blindness) - This is one of the major treatments that lure more and more American and European clients to seek the services of the healthcare system in Cuba.
  
  
• Excellent Doctors - the Cuban medical system is backed by a team of highly proficient, multi-lingual doctors and surgeons, with several of them having undergone professional training in US.
  
  
• Highest no. of doctors per capita - Cuba boasts of more doctors per capita than anywhere else in the world.
  
  
• Modern, state of the art hospitals and clinics - You'll find most Cuban hospitals clean and modern, with state of the art medical aids and equipments being available
  
  
• Tourism - a beach paradise for the wanderlust, Cuba is one of the best-known tourist destinations in the Caribbean. Hence, traveling to Cuba for medical procedures would definitely mean a relaxing and rejuvenating holiday for the US medical tourists, especially the baby boomers.
  
  
• On-time Treatments - Waiting time for medical treatments for health tourists in Cuba is significantly less as compared to that in US. Most often, you'll get immediate medical attention rather than having to spend days or weeks waiting as is quite prevalent in the US.
  
  
• Other conveniences - Besides receiving the finest of medical care in the private Cuban hospitals, health tourists may also enjoy various conveniences ranging from cable TV to air conditioning and a wide array of international cuisines.

Thus, the reasons for choosing Cuba as a destination for health care justify the growth of the medical tourism sector of the country.