MIAMI, United States. — The BioCubaFarma Business Group recently reported on new drug production lines on the island, although it warned that many drugs necessary for the population will continue to be lacking indefinitely.
Rita María García, director of Operations and Technology of the entity, declared to the official caribbean channel that the production of Aminophylline, Labetalol, Fenoterol and Morphine of 10 and 20 mg, injectable drugs for hospital use for patients under intensive care, was resumed.
The official also indicated that the raw material exists in the country to guarantee the manufacture of Hydrochlorothiazide at least until August.
Regarding the production of controlled drugs that were in short supply, such as Nifedipine (antihypertensive), Warfarin (anticoagulant) and Clonazepam (anxiolytic), García assured that their production was also resumed.
The directive maintained that Enalapril is currently being produced, although not in the quantities demanded by the population.
However, the official warned that other medications in high demand among the population, such as Amoxicillin, Co-Trimoxazole, and Azithromycin, will continue to be lacking indefinitely.
García pointed out that these antibiotics are not being manufactured because there are no premiums for them, nor is it known when they might arrive.
There will also be no presence in Cuban hospitals of other important cytostatics in great demand for cancer patients, such as Paclitaxel, Cisplatin and Oxaliplatin.
Similarly, drugs such as Allopurinol, Amiodarone, Omeprazole in capsules and Haloperidol 5 mg will continue to be in short supply. According to García, the production of the last two has been affected by an equipment break.
The director of Operations and Technology explained that the shortage of medicines on the Island, worsened in the last five years, is due to the difficult economic-financial situation that the country is going through and that this is, in turn, a consequence of “the hostility of the Government of the United States towards Cuba”.
