This Wednesday, Cuban leader Miguel Díaz-Canel acknowledged the critical shortage of medications in Cuba, attributing the crisis primarily to the lack of foreign currency due to what the regime refers to as the "tightening of the U.S. blockade." This public acknowledgment starkly contrasts with Cuba's official propaganda portraying itself as a "medical powerhouse."
Díaz-Canel made these remarks during the second airing of his radio program, Shared Criteria, on Radio Rebelde, while responding to a citizen's inquiry about the scarcity of pharmaceuticals.
He stated that "the biopharmaceutical sector in Cuba has been one of the hardest hit by the tightening of the blockade," and defended the country's "robust and capable biotechnological and pharmaceutical industry" that, with access to foreign exchange, could "purchase raw materials to produce the majority of medicines the country needs."
Cuba's basic medication list includes 651 items—250 of which are imported and 401 produced domestically. However, the regime claims that the embargo prevents them from acquiring 70% of the necessary medicines, according to unverified official figures.
What Díaz-Canel failed to mention is that the U.S. embargo exempts food and medicines, a provision established by the Torricelli Act of 1992 and the Trade Sanctions Reform Act of 2000, although these transactions require licenses and export controls. The State Department reiterated in August that these exceptions remain in place.
Additionally, he omitted that back in August, he had already conceded that only 30% of the basic medication list was available—meaning seven out of ten essential drugs were missing—alongside grim statistics: 98,500 patients on surgical waiting lists, including 12,000 children; 117,000 adults and 1,200 minors with cancer lacking first-line treatments; and an infant mortality rate that nearly doubled to 9.8 per 1,000 live births.
The contradiction with the regime's priorities is hard to overlook. In 2024, the state allocated more than 36.8 billion pesos to tourism activities compared to a mere 1.977 billion for public health. According to financial documents obtained by The Miami Herald, the military-run tourism company Gaviota held about $4.3 billion in accounts—nearly 13 times the 339 million dollars the government estimated it needed to supply pharmacies with essential medicines.
Furthermore, Cuba generates between 6 and 8 billion dollars annually from exporting medical services, with around 24,000 professionals deployed across 56 countries, while the state retains approximately 85% of these payments.
In Ciego de Ávila, the healthcare network operated in August with just 60 medications—10% of the basic list—and 151 drugs were absent from warehouses due to internal logistical issues and fuel shortages, not because of the embargo.
As a partial response to the crisis, the regime authorized private companies to manage pharmacies in July, an activity that had been reserved for the state for decades. By early September, the Ministry of Public Health reported that 36 private pharmacy projects were under evaluation, with 14 receiving approval to proceed. However, none have officially begun operations, and all medication imports must be channeled through state importers Medicuba and Farmacuba.
Díaz-Canel also acknowledged that some individuals "illegally and speculatively engage in the abusive pricing of medications," a reality fueled by the collapse of the state-run system.
The new customs regulations published on Monday (Resolution 340/2026) will take effect on October 12 and will regulate personal imports—including medicine shipments from abroad, permitted since February up to $200 or 20 kilograms per person.
Understanding Cuba's Medication Crisis
What is the main reason given by Díaz-Canel for the medication shortage in Cuba?
Díaz-Canel attributes the medication shortage to the lack of foreign currency caused by the "tightening of the U.S. blockade."
Are food and medications exempt from the U.S. embargo on Cuba?
Yes, the U.S. embargo exempts food and medicines, as established by the Torricelli Act of 1992 and the Trade Sanctions Reform Act of 2000, although these transactions require licenses and export controls.
How does Cuba generate revenue from medical services?
Cuba generates between 6 and 8 billion dollars annually from exporting medical services, deploying around 24,000 professionals across 56 countries, while the state retains about 85% of these payments.