The economic blockade imposed by the United States government against Cuba currently prevents access to raw materials and supplies necessary for the production of some 300 medicines, out of the 395 that make up the basic health list on the island.
Mayda Mauri, president of the BioCubaFarma Business Group, denounced that the Cuban biotechnology and pharmaceutical industry is suffering, as never before, from the impact of the criminal economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed by Washington for more than six decades.
During an interview with the Cuban News Channel, Mauri explained that, in the current context and in close coordination with the Cuban Ministry of Public Health, BioCubaFarma prioritizes the manufacture of drugs intended directly for emergency medical services and the care of seriously ill patients, such as serums and supplies for hemodialysis.
At the same time, the official noted that the institution is strengthening its alliances and business ventures abroad to capitalize on revenue generated from the export of innovative biotechnology products, which have resulted in patents and enjoy widespread international scientific recognition. In this regard, she emphatically clarified that the industry never exports medications that are in short supply within Cuba.
Finally, Mauri considered the bilateral strategic cooperation with the People's Republic of China and, more recently, with Vietnam and Russia, to be crucial for the development of the sector, nations where the first joint ventures with mutual benefits for both parties are already operational.
