Cuba's maternal health and early childhood development: Lessons for Canada

Cuba's comprehensive approach to maternal health and early childhood development can be a model for Canada, writes Dr. Wilbert Keon, chair of Canada's Senate Subcommittee on Population Health in an analysis in CMAJ http://www.cmaj.ca/press/pg314.pdf.

Healthy development for all Cuban children is a priority – health management occurs even before conception and support continues for children and families with preschool education programs and more.

Despite Canada's good health care delivery system, it is burdened with acute and chronic illness. "We need a population health approach to optimize health and well-being and minimize preventable disease," writes Dr. Keon.

Polyclinics, collaborative programs, and research to inform approaches and policy are 3 elements of the Cuban system that can help Canada improve its approach to health care. However, he does not suggest adopting the entire Cuban health care delivery system.