Cuban doctors have publicly addressed comments made by former President Donald Trump regarding the prevalence of autism on the island. Trump claimed that Cuba has “virtually no autism,” a statement that contradicts the data and contradicts the ongoing efforts by healthcare professionals in Cuba to treat and diagnose autism spectrum disorder (ASD). According to official Cuban government reports, Cuba has only 0.36 cases of autism per 10,000 people. Yet this figure is most probably an underestimate of the condition’s true incidence, given that scarce resources for diagnosis prevent comprehensive evaluations.
On Autism Awareness Day this year, April 2, Dr. Osmara Delgado Sánchez called out She pointed out that in Cuba, the discourse on autism is about acceptance, recognition, and support rather than how to “cure” or treat patients. Instead, healthcare providers are encouraged to provide supportive therapies and interventions. There are currently 300 health professionals specialized in autism working in seven dedicated centers across the country, demonstrating a commitment to addressing the needs of children with ASD.
Even with Cuba’s state-run, crisis-era medical system under strict economic limitations, the government has prioritized autism. Since 2018, Cuba has been creating individualized treatments for autism and has been running their clinics to treat those affected by it for years. The health sector has launched campaigns aimed at raising awareness about autism, highlighting the importance of understanding and supporting those with the condition.
Dr. Delgado addressed the need for specialized therapies, such as swimming with dolphins. These specialized services are rarely available to domestic patients. If they need treatment, they must often go abroad to pay in hard currency. This raises important equity issues regarding equitable access to care for Cuban citizens. They don’t have the same access to these treatments either.
Perhaps the low reported prevalence of autism in Cuba is a reflection of the lack of resources to properly diagnose it. This withholding of support directly affects how the condition is identified. Lack of rigorous training sets healthcare professionals up for failure in their work to identify and treat autism. That underscores why we need greater support and investment in mental health services across the country.
The discussion becomes even more muddled by Trump’s claims linking autism to poverty. But then he went on to misrepresent that avoiding Tylenol in pregnancy would protect against autism. Yet there is no scientific basis for this idea. Cuban officials have not reacted publicly to Trump’s remarks. This silence has made room for uninformed speculation about the ways in which misinformation fuels perception and policy.
