U.S. Voices Against the Blockade | Episode 1: Dr. Renee
April 29, 2026
Renee is a surgeon from Philadelphia who speaks out against the U.S. government’s economic war on Cuba. After visiting the island, she says the healthcare system is under severe strain: shortages of medicine and basic supplies, limited resources and constant blackouts that disrupt patient care.
According to Renee, these restrictions are harming ordinary people and making medical treatment increasingly difficult. “People are not being saved. People are being harmed,” she says. “If we really supported human rights in the United States, Cuba wouldn’t be in this situation.”
U.S. Voices Against the Blockade is a series featuring U.S. activists who oppose U.S. sanctions on Cuba. Watch Episode 1 to hear Renee’s voice and stay tuned to hear other people from the United States speaking out against U.S. sanctions.
“If it's true that it is the Cuban government that is causing the problems, then lift the blockade, let the oil in and let's see what happens,” she says.
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“The United States’ administration declaring that they are doing what they're doing to save the Cuban people, in my opinion, it's a lie because they're not saving the Cuban people,” said Dr. Renee, surgeon from Philadelphia.
“There are people dying. There are people living without water, without electricity,” Renee added.
“I am a physician in the United States,” the doctor said.
“I'm a surgeon,” she added.
“I have seen firsthand what the family medicine clinics [in Cuba] are lacking: speculums to do pelvic exams, simple antibiotic ointments, gauze dressings, sutures,” Renee explained.
“Everything is missing. Everything is lacking,” she said.
“So the ability to take care of patients is very limited,” the surgeon added.
“And I couldn't imagine, as a surgeon myself, having the trust of a patient, telling them that I'm going to remove their cancer, taking them to the operating room, and then the lights go off,” Renee said.
“So we have to wake them up and bring them back,” she added.
“How safe is that? It's horrible. It's inhumane,” the physician said.
“There are people dying, so people are not being saved,” Renee stated.
“People are being harmed,” she added.
“And if we actually really did support human rights in the United States, Cuba wouldn't be in this situation,” the doctor argued.
“What I would really like people to understand, U.S. doctors in particular, is the amazing education that Cuban physicians receive,” Renee said.
“They are able to take care of their own in Cuba, and then they're able to go abroad,” she added.
“And it's this idea of putting the people first, which drives the excellence, in my opinion, of the Cuban health care system,” the surgeon explained.
“What the blockade, what the embargo has done is it's prevented trade, it's prevented banking,” Renee said.
“It has prevented people in Cuba to buy equipment that has more than 10% US-made parts,” she added.
“It's horrible, it's ridiculous,” the physician said.
“And so that is why the medical care in Cuba is declining,” Renee concluded.
“I think that if it's true that it is the Cuban government that is causing the problems, then lift the blockade, let the oil in and let's see what happens,” she said.
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