The Cuban pharmaceutical company "8 de Marzo", a part of BioCubaFarma, has received a donation of 60 tons of Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) from India. This generous donation will allow Cuba to resume production of high-demand antibiotics for its National Health System (SNS), which is currently in crisis due to a severe shortage of medications.
The Indian pharmaceutical ingredients will be used to produce penicillin and cephalosporin antibiotics, suitable for both oral and intramuscular administration. These medications include amoxicillin, cephalexin, ceftriaxone, cefuroxime, ceftazidime, and cefixime, available in both capsule and suspension forms. The coverage for these antibiotics is expected to last between 6 and 12 months in both community and hospital pharmacies.
BioCubaFarma has announced that these antibiotics will be ready for distribution in approximately 50 days, pending the completion of necessary production cycles. Since 2021, Cuba has been grappling with a medication shortage. The situation worsened with the implementation of the "tarea ordenamiento," which disrupted prices and wages, further diminishing the already precarious purchasing power of Cubans and forcing them to buy medicines from the informal market.
In 2023, the regime acknowledged that 251 of the medications produced in Cuba are currently unavailable, representing 40% of the essential drug list. The shortage extends beyond antibiotics; essential medications like analgesics are also missing. There is no dipyrone 500 mg, aspirin 500 mg, or paracetamol 500 mg tablets available.
In March 2024, Cuban leader Miguel Díaz-Canel admitted that the scarcity of medications and medical supplies on the island would persist. Pharmacies across the country remain empty, exacerbating the public health crisis.
FAQs on Cuba's Antibiotic Production and Medication Shortages
This section addresses common questions regarding the recent developments in Cuba's antibiotic production and the ongoing medication shortages.
What types of antibiotics will Cuba produce with the Indian donation?
Cuba will produce penicillin and cephalosporin antibiotics, including amoxicillin, cephalexin, ceftriaxone, cefuroxime, ceftazidime, and cefixime.
How long will the antibiotics from this production last?
The antibiotics are expected to last between 6 and 12 months in community and hospital pharmacies.
Why is there a medication shortage in Cuba?
The shortage has been exacerbated by economic reforms known as "tarea ordenamiento," which disrupted prices and wages, diminishing the purchasing power of Cubans and forcing them to buy medications on the informal market.
What did Miguel Díaz-Canel say about the future of medication availability in Cuba?
In March 2024, Díaz-Canel admitted that the scarcity of medications and medical supplies in Cuba would continue.