A tragic incident unfolded in the community of La Maya, located in the Songo-La Maya municipality of Santiago de Cuba, where a five-year-old child died after consuming an "unverified" and expired medication at home. This heartbreaking news was reported by local health authorities on Monday.
The General Health Directorate in Santiago de Cuba released an official statement expressing the community's shock over the external poisoning of two children due to the consumption of uncertified medication at home, which resulted in the death of one child.
The report elaborates that the young boy was taken to the Carlos Juan Finlay clinic on the morning of September 2, after suffering from convulsions. Medical personnel discovered that he had been given "500 mg Paracetamol of foreign origin, expired in 2020" at home. Despite immediate medical attention, the child tragically passed away.
During interviews with the family, healthcare professionals learned that an 11-year-old child living in the same household exhibited similar symptoms. This child was urgently transported to a medical facility. The report indicates that due to the "obvious deterioration of his health and confirmation of the medication consumed," diagnostic and therapeutic protocols were activated. He was admitted to the Juan de la Cruz Martínez Maceira Children's Hospital, where he is currently in intensive care, "recovered, stable, and under observation."
Given the seriousness of the event, authorities have confirmed an ongoing investigation to clarify the circumstances surrounding the incident and to enhance safety measures for handling pharmaceuticals at home.
The statement emphasizes the critical need to strengthen health education within communities and promote safe access to medications under suitable conditions.
The incident has sparked widespread reactions on social media, with many citizens blaming the healthcare system for the tragedy. They highlighted the chronic shortage of pharmaceuticals in pharmacies, forcing families to seek medications from abroad or through informal markets, which lack health guarantees.
"If there were medications available in this country's pharmacies, we wouldn't need to buy them from the street without knowing their origin," wrote one user. Another mother shared, "I know all too well the desperation that hits when our children are sick, and we don't have the medicine we need."
In a recent session in July, Health Minister José Ángel Portal Miranda acknowledged before the National Assembly that only 30% of the country's essential medication list is available, indicating an unprecedented structural crisis in the healthcare system.
This case also resurrects the alert issued in 2024 by the Center for State Control of Medicines (CECMED) regarding the circulation of counterfeit medications in Latin America. Health authorities have warned that these products, entering the country without control or certification, pose a severe public health risk. Yet, due to the scarcity, many families are compelled to self-medicate with whatever they can find, often unaware if the medications are genuine, expired, or potentially dangerous.
Understanding the Medication Crisis in Cuba
What caused the child's death in Santiago de Cuba?
The child's death was caused by ingesting an expired and uncertified medication at home.
What measures are authorities taking in response to this incident?
Authorities have launched an investigation to clarify the incident's circumstances and are working to reinforce safety measures for the handling of pharmaceuticals in homes.
How are social media users reacting to this tragedy?
Social media users have expressed outrage, criticizing the healthcare system for the medication shortage and highlighting the dangers of relying on unregulated sources for medicine.
What did the Health Minister admit regarding Cuba's medication supply?
Health Minister José Ángel Portal Miranda admitted that only 30% of the essential medications are available, indicating a severe crisis in the country's healthcare system.