Cuba faces severe medicine shortage
Cuba is struggling with a major shortage of medicines, a top health official has confirmed.
According to María Cristina Lara Bastanzuri, the national director for Medical Technology and Medications, the lack of financing and resources has accounted for the problem.
She added that this has been worsened by the long-standing US economic blockade against Cuba.
Speaking to the Parliament’s Health Commission, Lara Bastanzuri explained that 80% of Cuba’s medicines are produced locally. However, only 24% of both common and essential medications are currently available in drugstores.
Difficulties in the transportation of raw materials and finished drugs, as well as a shortage of containers, according to her, have also contributed to the problem.
Production of natural medicines has also been disrupted due to a lack of key items like vegetables, refined sugar, and alcohol, she added.
Following her submissions, Deputy Prime Minister Eduardo Martinez called for urgent action to address the crisis, urging officials to focus on alternative medicines and improve the working conditions and facilities of drugstores.
Meanwhile, Cuba’s Parliament commissions are working on these issues ahead of the National Assembly’s fourth session, which begins on December 18. The government is seeking ways to ease the shortages and improve access to essential medicines.
