The challenges are great, given that the country lacks a co-ordinated public-health system and 40m people have no medical insurance.

ECONOMIST: Avian influenza

The public health system makes it simple to get medical data, and public opinion supports the use of it.

FORBES: Genes for sale

Roberta Gianfortoni, a dean at the Harvard School of Public Health, has visited Cuba to tour its medical system and says doctors there know how to do many procedures but that doesn't mean those procedures are actually available.

FORBES: Sicko's Shortcuts