In the context of high hospital occupancy, driven mainly by the Maternal and Child Program (PAMI in Spanish), the authorities of the Doctor Ernesto Guevara de la Serna General Teaching Hospital detailed the institution's situation, its resources, and the immediate challenges it faces.
Las Tunas, Cuba.- Dr. Marianela Zapata Romero, director of the Guevara Hospital, explained that the center has a total of 788 beds (707 budgeted and 81 unbudgeted), distributed throughout its various subdirectorships. Currently, almost 50 percent of the capacity is used for services related to the care of seriously ill patients and, notably, for morbidity associated with PAMI.
"The protection for seriously ill patients is a priority today, as demonstrated by the institution's efforts to maintain the quality of care in the face of this specific demand."
“The hospital covers virtually all areas, except for Psychiatry (care delegated to the Provincial Psychiatric Hospital) and Cardiovascular Surgery; the rest of the specialties currently have the necessary human resources coverage,” she said.
A key driver to achieve this has been the recent addition of more than 100 residents to the training programs. This contingent, focused on basic specialties such as Obstetrics and Gynecology, Internal Medicine, General Surgery, Orthopedics, and Neonatology, strengthens both clinical-surgical and technical services.
“The challenge we face as a hospital is to maintain and improve the quality of care for the population. That is our main mission,” said Zapata Romero.
To support the training of these new specialists, the hospital has strengthened its teaching staff. At the end of 2025, an improvement in the academic categorization of teachers has been reported.
"We have categorized new faculty, incorporating many young people into the teaching-educational process, even from their training in doctoral programs during their residency."
"We have 15 specialties that have been categorized, of which nine have achieved the category of excellence. This achievement consolidates not only teaching but also research."
"Currently, our facility is developing more than 30 research projects. Collaboration extends beyond our classrooms, with joint initiatives between various centers and institutions in the province. An area of special interest and growth is drug management."
“We are starting such an important intersectoral project, given the relevance and impact that this issue has in our country today,” announced the doctor, highlighting the innovative and collaborative nature of this line of work."
The "Guevara" Hospital is facing this period of high demand for healthcare, committed to strengthening professional training through the recruitment of new residents and the systematic improvement of teaching and research quality, which is achieved through a collaborative approach to addressing high-impact health issues.
