Cuba: 19 deaths in state custody linked to medical neglect

The human rights group Cubalex has reported 19 deaths occurring under state custody in Cuba during the first part of 2026, attributing the fatalities to medical negligence or inadequate healthcare. Of these, 17 deaths occurred within eight different prisons, while two others took place at a police station in Havana and a psychiatric hospital in Cienfuegos.

The Provincial Prison of Las Tunas, known as El Típico, recorded the highest number of fatalities with four deaths. Reports from this facility highlight extreme physical deterioration among inmates. One case involved 34-year-old Yoandry Cutiño Oliva, who reportedly died in a state of severe malnutrition, weighing only 32 kilograms. While authorities cited cancer as the cause of death, Cubalex asserts the decline was due to imprisonment conditions. Other deaths at the facility included José Rivero Consuegra, who died following a heart attack, and an unidentified inmate linked to malnutrition.

In Havana, 37-year-old Ferrer Ortiz Alayón died after being detained at the Zanja police station for over 17 hours following a traffic incident. Despite suffering head injuries, he was allegedly denied critical medical attention for brain swelling and blood clots. Cubalex reports that inmates at El Típico face severe food scarcity, describing meals as worm-infested flour paste.