Of the 359 medicines that BioCubaFarma provides to the basic table each month, last 2021 it only gave 121 on average, and 2022 does not start well either, since 136 are missing again this January.
The shortage of drugs last year had been reported by the press throughout the first half of the year, especially, but at the end of July the president of the business group, Eduardo Martínez Díaz, announced that the problems would be resolved by the second half of the year, something that It seems to be confirmed that it did not happen with the figure provided this Monday by himself In an interview with Granma.
Among the reasons, according to the doctor, that the population did not find many of the necessary medicines was the investment made for the creation of national vaccines against covid-19 and the immunization campaign, which reduced the budget by half.
The lack of raw materials and supplies is the fundamental cause of the shortage of medicines, although in some cases, more sporadic according to the manager, it is also due to breakages in the machinery
“We have had to use a significant part of the resources in confronting the pandemic, and only 50% of the financing that was needed to acquire the raw materials for the basic medicines was available.”
The lack of raw materials and supplies is the fundamental cause of the shortage of medicines, although in some cases, more sporadic according to the manager, it is also due to breakages in the machinery. “In what way does the impact of the blockade imposed by the US directly affect this situation?” the journalist asks, seeing that Martínez Díaz has failed to cite the usual justification.
The question allows the manager to review the lack of access to financing or the suppliers that refuse to work with Cuba for fear of sanctions. “We have evidence of what we are saying,” he wields, although without providing it.
Martínez Díaz also indicates that there are supplies that are scarce all over the world, although in the answer to what they are, he specifies that the problems are related to logistics and transportation. He also argues that there is a lack of vitamins in the world and that affects Truabin and Polivit, although these are not drugs.
The president of BioCubaFarma also renews the promise he made last year and affirms that the first half of the current year will continue to be complicated, but in June the situation will improve. Exactly what he said in 2021 and did not happen. When the journalist asks him which medications went well last year, the manager can barely mention one: Timolol 0.5%, an eye drop.
According to the official, there are three categories of medicines, of the total, 262 are Priority 1 and of these, 88 are already missing in January. “Of the latter, 11 are in the production process and will be delivered in February; 64 have the raw materials contracted and financed, but are pending arrival in the country; another seven depend on raw materials that have not yet been financed; and four are affected by problems in the production lines,” he adds, noting that there are two drugs whose raw materials have not been contracted due to lack of suppliers.
It also reveals that there are 12 top priority drugs – without specifying which ones they are – because they affect 5 million people, of which 3 are missing this January, because although the raw material is there, it has not yet arrived on the island.
The manager also explains that there are 110 medicines that are for seriously ill patients, of which there are 19, four are being manufactured and will arrive this February, 13 are pending the arrival of raw materials and another two pending financing.
Martínez Díaz put enalapril, one of the most necessary medications on the island due to the number of hypertensives there are, as an example of those who have deficiencies
Martínez Díaz put enalapril, one of the most necessary medications on the island due to the number of hypertensives there are, as an example of those who have deficiencies.
“The 42 million tablets needed in the country to cover a month’s demand could not be delivered, leaving two provinces partially out of supply, therefore, it is considered to be in national shortage. This drug uses more than 15 components for its manufacture. , and the reason why not all the necessary quantity was produced was due to not having the primary packaging material,” said the official, who recalls that it is enough for a component to be missing so that nothing can be done.
Martínez Díaz also demanded that more emphasis be placed on the control of the illegal sale of medicines, although this is stimulated by the evident lack of essential drugs that he reveals.
“If we were to buy the products that BioCubaFarma supplies to the National Health System on the international market, more than a billion US dollars would be needed. However, production in our country is financed with around 160 million,” he adds. explain how much it saves to manufacture in Cuba.
________________________
Collaborate with our work:
The team of 14ymedio is committed to doing serious journalism that reflects the reality of deep Cuba. Thank you for joining us on this long road. We invite you to continue supporting us, but this time becoming a member of our journal. Together we can continue transforming journalism in Cuba.
