Cuba

The was founded in 1728 and there are a number of other well-established . In 1957, just before Castro came to power, the literacy rate was fourth in the region at almost 80% according to the United Nations, higher than in Spain. Castro created an entirely state-operated system and banned private institutions. School attendance is compulsory from ages six to the end of basic secondary education (normally at age 15), and all students, regardless of age or gender, wear school uniforms with the color denoting grade level. Primary education lasts for six years, secondary education is divided into basic and pre-university education. of 99.8 percent is the , due largely to the provision of free education at every level.

Higher education is provided by universities, higher institutes, higher institutes, and higher institutes. The Cuban Ministry of Higher Education operates a distance education program that provides regular afternoon and evening courses in rural areas for agricultural workers. Education has a strong political and ideological emphasis, and students progressing to higher education are expected to have a commitment to the goals of Cuba..

According to the , the top-ranking universities in the country are (1680th worldwide), (2893rd) and the (3831st).[323]

Cuba's at birth is 78.3 years (76.2 for males and 80.4 for females). 6.1 in 2000–2005 and 5.13 in 2009. Historically, Cuba has ranked high in numbers of medical personnel and has made significant contributions to world health since the 19th century. and despite persistent shortages of medical supplies, there is no shortage of medical personnel. That a developing nation like Cuba has health outcomes rivaling the developed world is referred to by researchers as the Cuban Health Paradox.

Disease and infant mortality increased in the 1960s immediately after the revolution, when half of Cuba's 6,000 doctors left the country. and the country's health care has been widely praised. Like the rest of the , medical care suffered from severe material shortages following the end of Soviet subsidies in 1991, and a tightening of the U.S. embargo in 1992.[331]

Challenges include low salaries for doctors, Cuba has the highest doctor-to-population ratio in the world and has sent thousands of doctors to more than 40 countries around the world., Cuba is "known the world over for its ability to train excellent doctors and nurses who can then go out to help other countries in need".[] As of September 2014, there are around 50,000 Cuban-trained health care workers aiding 66 nations..[336]

Import and export of is done by the Quimefa Pharmaceutical Business Group (FARMACUBA) under the Ministry of Basic Industry (MINBAS). This group also provides technical information for the production of these drugs., which is now available to US researchers for the first time, along with other novel Cuban cancer treatments. The vaccine has been available for free to the Cuban population since 2011. CEO Candace Johnson: "They've had to do more with less, so they've had to be even more innovative with how they approach things. For over 40 years, they have had a preeminent immunology community." starting in December 2014 under the Obama administration, a growing number of U.S. lung cancer patients traveled to Cuba to receive vaccine treatment. The end of the thaw under the Trump Administration has resulted in a tightening of travel restrictions, making it harder for U.S. citizens to travel to Cuba for treatment.[340]

In 2015, Cuba became the first country to eradicate of HIV and syphilis, as "one of the greatest public health achievements possible".[342]