State senator looks to Cuba for "state-of-the-art" health care

When Parker Griffith (D.-Huntsville) ran for State Senate last year, he promised to do all he could to improve the quality of health care in Alabama. According to his campaign web site:

As a doctor, Griffith was the first radiation oncologist in North Alabama and a pioneer in the early diagnosis and treatment of cancer, establishing the first of its kind comprehensive cancer center to treat all types of cancer. He is known throughout the community as a doctor who cared about his patients and provided free and discounted care to many who did not have insurance. Parker believes this experience will help him address the healthcare needs of Alabama. “We need to reduce the cost of healthcare for everyone and see that our children are covered by health insurance. As Senator, I will introduce legislation to provide tax credits to small businesses that provide family insurance coverage for their employees. I will make it my mission to see that every child in our community can get coverage.”

Griffith, a current member of the Alabama Medical Association and Madison County Medical Society believes his background as a physician will help him understand and cultivate Huntsville’s expanding biotechnology industry. “As a doctor, I understand first hand the importance of research to help diagnose and treat disease. This industry also holds enormous economic potential for our community.”

Now, it appears that Griffith is looking to Castro's Cuba as a model. From Sunday's Huntsville Times:

In all, Alabama is selling upwards of $140 million in agricultural and forest products to Cuba, according to the latest figures from the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries.

State Sen. Parker Griffith, D-Huntsville, would like to see pharmaceutical products added to the mix. ...

Griffith, a retired doctor, said Thursday he's anxious to join one of those missions to examine the country's free health system.

He said intends to speak with the CEOs of two large generic drug manufacturers in Huntsville to gauge their interest in selling medicine to Cuba.

"I have not done that yet because I want to go to Cuba to see firsthand what's going on," Griffin said. "I want to see the state-of-the-art of their medicine. I know that's one of the real points of (Castro's) communist regime."