New York, October 26th, 2023.- The large losses to the health sector in Cuba due to the US blockade, between March 2022 and February 2023, amount to 239,803,690 dollars, a figure that exceeds by almost 80 million the damages reported in the period prior to the pandemic. COVID-19.
Among the hundreds of obstacles imposed by this policy, Cuba is denied the right to acquire technologies, raw materials, reagents, medicines, devices, equipment and spare parts, among other materials necessary for the better functioning of its National Health System. .
Likewise, and contrary to the will of its people and the American scientific community itself, the US government continues to impose barriers to broader and more beneficial bilateral cooperation in health matters.
During the period, the company MediCuba made 69 requests to US companies to access resources and other supplies necessary in the national health system. Three responded negatively: Termo Fisher Scientific, New England Biolabs and Agilent Technologies, while no response was received from 64.
At present, there are 20 thousand Cuban families waiting for diagnoses of genetic diseases that have not been able to be properly treated, due to not having access to the required technology, which contains more than 10% American manufacturing.
The Japanese company JASCO, manufacturer of spare parts for laboratory equipment, refused to market products with Cuba, due to its policy of not interacting with countries that are on the list of State sponsors of terrorism of the United States Department of State. United The effects of these measures have a particularly harsh impact on the most vulnerable people.
Cuba cannot buy Phosphorus Chelators from US companies, specifically Sevelamer, which is used in the treatment of pediatric patients with kidney pathologies. Failure to administer this drug in a timely manner exposes patients to developing renal Osteodystrophy, which causes severe bone malformations that progress to disability.
Cuban newborns with acute kidney failure find the necessary dialysis difficult due to the lack of catheters with the calibers recommended for neonates. These supplies have not been able to be acquired since they are manufactured by American companies that are prohibited from having ties with Cuba.
NUTRICIA, a multinational company based in the Netherlands, continued to refuse to sell products for the National Maternal and Child Care Program to Cuba, alleging the activation of Title III of the Helms-Burton Act.
It is also not possible to access molecular diagnostic tests to personalize the treatment of patients with breast cancer or colon cancer and predict the risk of relapses.
New medications produced by American pharmaceutical companies in the area of oncological services are not available for Cuba, among them.
The medicine Nusinersen is used to combat childhood spinal atrophy. It is expensive, approximately a quarter of a million dollars for each year of treatment, but its effectiveness has been demonstrated in keeping more than half of the children with this deadly disease alive. It is only produced by the American multinational company Biogen, therefore, it is not available for Cuban patients.
In the area of dental care, the effects have been substantial. There has been significant instability in the supply of surgical and examination gloves, alginates, plaster and dental cements, among others. During the period, more than 300 physical units of dental prostheses were no longer produced.
On November 1 and 2, the General Assembly will consider and vote on the aforementioned draft resolution “Need to end the economic, financial and commercial blockade of the United States against Cuba.” Once again, the international community will raise its voice and overwhelmingly reject this unjust, illegal and cruel policy.
Permanent Mission of Cuba to the United Nations