There was no public concern about the health of Ramos, a retired general known for keeping fit, until December 1996, when he had surgery to remove a significant blockage in an artery in his neck. Regular medical bulletins were released on his condition following his surgery. A couple of months later – and weeks ahead of a visit to South Asia and the Middle East – Ramos had a stress test to determine his fitness to travel. His doctors, again, released a report.